Spirit Energy - Turning a Resource Crunch into Efficiency & Employee Advocacy

UK-based Spirit Energy is a forward-thinking independent energy producer, navigating the evolving landscape of traditional and renewable energy with a bold and responsible vision for the future. Operating across the UK and the Netherlands, the company is driven by innovation and inclusion with a focus on safety and environmental performance whilst transitioning toward a lower-carbon future.

As the business adapts to new industry demands and regulatory frameworks, Spirit Energy continues to rely on partners who can evolve alongside them, none more so than Mintra. With a partnership spanning thirty years with the Mintra group companies, Spirit Energy has developed a relationship based on transparency, communication and the shared goal of workforce excellence.

The longstanding partnership with Mintra has been maintained by Sheila Keddie, Competence & Assurance Manager at Spirit Energy and a well-known figure in the oil and gas training world.

Since their partnership began with the Mintra group of companies, Spirit Energy has utilised a variety of digital learning solutions for over 500 of its staff. Today, Mintra’s market-leading learning and competency management system, Trainingportal, serves as Spirit Energy’s repository for all training and competence needs. It hosts nearly 600 courses, including over 100 titles from Mintra’s licensed Health Safety and Environment (HSE) portfolio, as well as technical skills training and bespoke content developed by Spirit Energy, such as their internal leadership programme. The platform also integrates external industry-specific courses, including emergency response training, providing a seamless, all-in-one solution for workforce development and compliance.

Sheila Keddie, Competence & Assurance Manager, Spirit Energy "Mintra provides a great service that meets our training needs. Its people are approachable, flexible and most importantly, hugely knowledgeable about the industry as well as their service offering. Working with them has always been an easy and seamless experience."

The Challenge: A Resource Gap with Real Operational Risk

In late 2024, a staffing issue led to the decision to temporarily engage Mintra’s Training Management Services (TMS). Spirit Energy required expert support over an extended period to address a significant gap in its training team, which manages extensive competence and compliance requirements.

A fast and reliable solution was needed to avoid training backlogs and ensure continuity of operations, without compromising quality or compliance.

The Solution: Embedded Training Management Support from Mintra

Kirsten McAuley, BD & TMS Manager, Mintra, “Aside from addressing staff challenges, we are finding that with rising operational costs and stricter regulations in the maritime and energy sectors, training and compliance teams are frequently under increasing pressure to balance efficiency with mandatory requirements.

Outsourcing a training management system (TMS) helps by streamlining administration, tracking compliance and offering scalable solutions. A TMS ensures regulatory standards are met while reducing internal strain using tools like e-learning, simulation-based training and automated reminders to keep employees up to date and support business performance."

Mintra was able to respond to Spirit Energy’s pressing need within one week, deploying a dedicated team to rapidly deliver outsourced TMS that included:

• Booking service for classroom-based training requests. The client submits the request, and Mintra secures the booking with the external vendor
• Automatic updates for dates and certifications on Trainingportal
• Management of vendors
• Sending joining instructions to employees
• All invoicing is handled on behalf of the client

"Our approach was grounded in understanding Spirit Energy’s unique needs and adapting quickly to support them. The trust and collaboration we’ve built over time allowed us to step in immediately and make a difference." Kirsten McAuley, BD & TMS Manager, Mintra

As Spirit energy was already using Trainingportal, merging with the TMS was very straightforward. The open Application Programming Interface (API) allows it to integrate with any system, ensuring a seamless transition for current or potential new clients. Once integrated, the Mintra solution quickly starts to deliver benefits, with full visibility for clients through one centralised view of training compliance, costings and savings.

The team simply agreed on the invoicing schedule, KPIs and reporting structure. The system was live within one week.

Euan Slater, Account Manager, Mintra was instrumental in the integration and manages the day-to-day Spirit Energy Account. "We didn’t just parachute in and take over admin. We became an extension of the team. That’s what makes the difference."

What started as a three-month solution has quickly evolved into a long-term partnership, demonstrating the true value of responsiveness, understanding and alignment.

Sheila Keddie, “Having worked in oil and gas for 40 years, I have seen the industry evolve a lot. Training is more targeted now and economics are more important than ever. We have to find the right balance between managing statutory requirements with employee development and cost. I feel like we have found an exceptional solution that benefits both elements with Mintra’s TMS.”

The Impact: From reactive to proactive

The streamlined processes and responsive service have allowed Spirit Energy to:

• Deliver a cost-saving win without performance loss.
• Improve efficiency by joining instructions being sent within 24 hours.
• Free up internal resources to focus on strategic improvements and competence development.
• Improve employee experience and advocacy through prompt training approvals and clear communication.

“The biggest impact is on our time. It has streamlined everything and freed us up to focus on the bigger picture. We have time to support our team better, build a more robust framework and focus on what really matters, competence, not admin.” Sheila Keddie, Spirit Energy

Workshops, regular reviews and collaborative problem-solving have become key features of the relationship. When technical challenges arose, Mintra responded quickly, hosting an impromptu technical workshop that proved so successful that it will now be an annual event.

Looking Ahead: Working Smarter, Simpler, More Strategically

Mintra continues to support Spirit Energy with catalogue optimisations, training content refinement and more personalised workshops. With the TMS now embedded, Spirit Energy is exploring even greater levels of employee autonomy, forward planning and team accountability by expanding the service and handing over full administrative responsibility to Mintra. The TMS will issue automated reminders and the team will be encouraged to take ownership of their own roles, training and competencies.

The expanded TMS service in 2025 will include:

• Full administration of e-learning, classroom and practical course bookings
• Vendor Management and Data cleansing of training matrices within Trainingportal
• Direct liaison with employees and leadership teams
• A monthly on-site presence to support seamless integration
• Full responsibility for compliance

Like any new system, there have been some initial challenges. Spirit Energy have experienced the occasional technical issue or slower performance during system upgrades. But as Sheila Keddie highlighted, “What stands out is the responsiveness of the Mintra support team. They’re quick to act, always helpful, and never leave us in the dark. Whether it’s resolving an issue or providing a smart workaround, their support is consistently reliable."

Spirit energy will also benefit from the TMS’s ability to forecast expiring certifications and consolidate training schedules, making the process not only more cost-effective but also more impactful.

Key Outcomes & Learnings

✅ Trust is everything.
Spirit Energy extended the contract based on reliability and results.
✅ Admin offloaded, strategy unlocked.
Spirit can now focus on improving frameworks.
✅ Proactive engagement wins.
One-to-one workshops and ongoing dialogue deliver real value.
✅ Scalability, not just savings. Mintra’s services grow with Spirit’s evolving needs.