Building competence for critical operations
Interview with Torben Harring, CEO of RelyOn
In a world shaped by increasing complexity, technological change and rising safety demands, companies operating in high-risk environments face growing challenges when it comes to workforce competence and operational readiness. RelyOn has positioned itself as a global partner in this field, supporting organizations with training, consultancy and digital solutions. In this interview, CEO Torben Harring explains how the company has evolved, which growth markets are shaping its future and why building performance-ready workforces is becoming a key factor for long-term success.
Founded in 1968 as the Danish Fire Training School, the company initially focused on fire and safety training for the offshore industry. Over time, however, the business evolved into a global provider of competence and workforce development solutions for high-risk sectors. Today RelyOn employs around 1,500 people, operates more than 50 facilities worldwide and trains roughly 500,000 participants every year. The organization is structured across six global regions and continues to expand both organically and through acquisitions. RelyOn completes around ten acquisitions annually to strengthen capabilities and broaden its international footprint.While safety training for oil and gas once accounted for as much as 95% of activities, the sector today represents roughly a quarter of the business as the portfolio has expanded into areas such as renewable energy, maritime, oil and gas, utilities, electrical infrastructure, public and defense, and other high-consequence sectors. The company’s services are structured around four core areas: training, consultancy and competence development including engineering disciplines, outsourced
managed services and a growing digital offering with applications, learning technologies and simulation technologies. These activities are supported by specialized Centers of Excellence, including the Leadership Academy, Electrical Academy, Fire Academy, Marine Academy and PetroSkills Engineering Academy, which strengthen expertise across high-risk industries. Digitalization is becoming increasingly important in this context, with advanced agentic-AI platforms supporting competence management and training systems. Though practical training remains essential, particularly for blue-collar roles where safety-critical skills must be practiced in realistic environments, theoretical content can be delivered in a digital learning format.
Global expansion and new markets
As the company continues to grow internationally, new sectors are becoming increasingly important. Europe and the Americas each account for roughly 40% of the business, while Australia and Asia contribute around 15 to 18%, complemented by activities in other regions around the world. One of the strongest growth areas is electrification. Large infrastructure projects such as national grid build-outs, transmission lines, substations and major data-center developments require specialized competence and safety training. At the same time the maritime sector is emerging as another important pillar of the company’s activities. Here RelyOn provides simulator-based training, applied maritime research, port studies, career management training and risk assessments for personnel working in complex maritime environments. Engineering capabilities are also expanding and include disciplines such as carbon capture technologies, geology and other technical fields linked to the energy transition and large infrastructure projects. Leadership development represents another growth area, drawing on expertise from high-stakes industries such as naval aviation and nuclear operations to prepare managers responsible for critical systems and complex organizations. “Our ambition is to help companies build what we call a performance-ready workforce,” says Torben Harring, referring to employees who can operate competently in demanding environments. Clients increasingly expect seamless integrations between learning platforms and operational systems, seamless communication, greater automation and flexible competence solutions.
Many organizations therefore outsource complex training and competence management tasks that are not part of their core business, leading to deeper development partnerships between companies and specialized competence providers.
Navigating uncertainty while building long-term competence
The market environment for industrial companies has become more complex in recent years. Customers have always been price-sensitive, but today the broader financial environment plays a larger role as capital has become more expensive and payment cycles sometimes extend. “In uncertain times it is crucial to stay very close to our clients and keep a flexible cost base,” says Torben Harring. At the same time, geopolitical developments and global infrastructure investments continue to create strong long-term demand for competence development. While the Middle East remains an important market, the company currently approaches the region somewhat more cautiously due to geopolitical developments. Sustainability has also received significant attention in recent years, with stronger reporting on environmental goals, social responsibility and topics such as gender equality. However, current geopolitical realities mean that issues such as security, energy security and supply security have moved further into the foreground in many industries. Internally, the organization is undergoing an ongoing transformation that is communicated openly, honestly and transparently throughout the company and supported by a dedicated core team driving strategic change initiatives. The culture and purpose of the organization are important factors in attracting talent, as many employees value working for a company that contributes to protecting people, assets and the environment in high-risk industries. “People join and stay because they believe in the purpose of what we do and want to be part of a company that is growing and transforming,” says Torben Harring. Looking ahead, the company expects continued growth driven by electrification, renewable energy and global infrastructure investments. Despite global unrest, the outlook for upcoming years remains positive as industries continue to invest in competence and safety for complex operations worldwide. In addition, the company continues to expand its leadership services and digital capabilities, including AI-supported solutions, while responding to a growing customer demand for integrated and outsourced competence development to strengthen long-term partnerships.