What First Competence Ltd does

First Competence Ltd is a UK-based B2B lifting solutions specialist headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, operating as a subsidiary of the 1st Tech Group. Founded in 2017 and affiliated with Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the company serves primarily the offshore energy industry and adjacent onshore industrial operations, providing services and products across four pillars: People (lifting personnel placement, training and assessment, iLEAD competence development programme), Plant (lift plan reviews, technical support, push/grab pole safety equipment), Process (compliance reviews and audits, procedure production and review), and Performance (analytics for compliance and operational risk).

The company's underlying technology stack combines traditional lifting safety expertise with a growing digital product surface, including the proprietary Deck Management System (a browser-based load planning tool with drag-and-drop placement), a structured Lift Planning e-learning course, Workplace Virtual Reality Training and Assessment modules, and an analytics platform. It also sells a suite of role-specific printed handbooks covering rigging, crane operations, equipment examination, and lifting operations, priced between £15 and £25 per unit.

Commercially, First Competence generates revenue through a mix of professional services (consulting, audits, personnel placement, onsite training), perpetual e-learning licenses (£85 per course), low-priced physical product sales (£15–£100 per unit), and bespoke solution delivery. Distribution is conducted via direct enterprise field sales, a website e-commerce storefront restricted to mainland UK deliveries, and digital self-serve access to e-learning. The company operates with a small team of 7 employees, indicating a specialist boutique model rather than a scaled consulting or software business.

Name

First Competence Ltd

Legal name

First Competence Ltd

Website

https://firstcompetence.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Competence Ltd is an Aberdeen-based B2B lifting solutions specialist serving the UK offshore energy sector, delivering compliance, training, personnel, digital planning tools, and safety products as a subsidiary of the 1st Tech Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Offshore Lifting Safety Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Reliability, Safety & Risk Engineering (RAMS/PSM) Consulting (BPAHAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions) (BPAEANAC)

Keywords

• Offshore lifting safety
• Lifting compliance services
• Lifting personnel provision
• Crane operations training
• Workplace VR training

Headquarters

HQ city

Aberdeen

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Safety Products: Sale of physical safety products including training handbooks (Rigging & Lifting Operations, Crane Operations, Lifting Equipment Thorough Examination, Lifting Operations) and Push/Grab Poles for hands-free load orientation.
2. E-Learning Courses: Online training course delivery with pricing at £85.00 per course. Course duration 2-4 hours covering lift planning competencies.
3. Training & Assessment Services: Onsite training services designed to be informative, engaging and accredited or aligned with industry standards and best practices. Includes option for bespoke course design specific to client needs.
4. Lifting Personnel Services: Provision of competent lifting personnel including Slingers, Banksmen, Riggers, Competent/Appointed Persons, and Lifting Technical Authorities for short or long-term engagements.
5. Consulting Services: Compliance reviews, audits, procedure production and review, and technical support services for lifting operations.
6. Competence Development Programme: iLEAD Lifting Competence Programme for ongoing professional development in lifting operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Competence Ltd provides integrated lifting solutions for the offshore energy and onshore industrial sectors, organized around four pillars: People, Plant, Process, and Performance. Core services include compliance reviews and audits, procedure production and review, technical support, provision of competent lifting personnel (Slingers, Banksmen, Riggers, Appointed Persons), training and assessments, the iLEAD Lifting Competence Development Programme, and compliance analytics. The company also sells digital tools (Deck Management System, Lift Planning eLearning Course, VR Training) and physical safety products (handbooks, Push/Grab Poles).

Product overview

First Competence Ltd is a lifting solutions company based in Aberdeen, Scotland, operating as part of the 1st Tech Group. The company provides an integrated portfolio of lifting specialist services and products organized around four pillars: People, Plant, Process, and Performance. Core service offerings include Compliance Reviews/Audits, Procedure Production and Review, Technical Support, Lifting Personnel provision, Training and Assessments, the iLEAD Competence Development Programme, Analytics, VR Learning (Workplace Virtual Reality Training), and the Lift Planning eLearning Course. Digital products include the Deck Management System for deck/landing area load planning. The company also offers a range of safety products including the Rigging & Lifting Operations Handbook (£15), Crane Operations Handbook (£15), Lifting Equipment Thorough Examination Handbook (£20), Lifting Operations Handbook (£25), and Push/Grab Poles (£100 per unit, minimum 10 units).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iLEAD: Lifting Competence Programme - a competence development program offered by First Competence Ltd.

Products and services

• Compliance Reviews | Audits Standard and bespoke reviews that assess lifting procedures and operations to identify compliance, non-compliance, and offer recommendations, aimed at offshore energy and industrial operators.
• Procedure Production and Review
• Technical Support
• Lifting Personnel
• Training and Assessments
• iLEAD Lifting Competence Development Programme
• Compliance and Performance Analytics
• Deck Management System (DMS)
• VR Learning (Workplace Virtual Reality Training & Assessment)
• Lift Planning eLearning Course
• Rigging & Lifting Operations Handbook
• Crane Operations Handbook
• Lifting Equipment Thorough Examination Handbook
• Lifting Operations Handbook
• Push / Grab Poles

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients can view specific criteria along with a projected overview of their current operational risk through analytics platform

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• OEUK (Offshore Energies UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Competence Ltd is affiliated with OEUK (Offshore Energies UK), the leading trade body representing the UK offshore energy industry. This affiliation positions the company within the core industry ecosystem and provides credibility and access to industry networks and standards.
• 1st Tech GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Competence Ltd is part of the 1st Tech Group, indicating a corporate group structure with related technology and services companies in the lifting and energy sector.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• OPITO: OPITO is the global skills standards body for the energy industry and provides approved training frameworks and competence standards that First Competence's courses align with; they are both key participants in the offshore lifting training ecosystem.
• Risktec (TÜV Rheinland): Risktec is a specialist risk and safety engineering consultancy providing reliability, safety, and risk management services to high-hazard industries including offshore energy — directly comparable to First Competence's compliance and risk engineering consulting work.
• K2Lifting (K2 Consultancy): K2Lifting provides lift planning, lifting equipment inspection, and personnel training services to the offshore and industrial lifting sector, competing head-to-head with First Competence on compliance reviews and Competent/Appointed Person training.
• 3T Energy Group: 3T Energy Group delivers safety-critical training and competence development to the global energy industry, including lifting and rigging courses — overlapping directly with First Competence's training, assessment, and iLEAD competence development portfolio.
• Sparrows Group: Sparrows Group is a leading provider of specialist lifting and mechanical services to the offshore energy industry, including crane maintenance, lifting equipment inspection, and personnel training — directly overlapping with First Competence's compliance, personnel, and training offerings.
• Lifting Solutions Group: Lifting Solutions Group provides bespoke lifting equipment, engineered lifting solutions, and on-site lifting services to industrial and energy clients — overlapping with First Competence's technical support, procedure production, and specialised lifting personnel offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global testing, inspection, and certification company with marine and offshore lifting equipment inspection and personnel certification services that overlap with First Competence's thorough examination and competence certification offerings.
• DNV: DNV offers advisory, certification, and training services across offshore energy, including safety and asset integrity consulting that competes with First Competence's compliance reviews and audits but at far greater scale and broader scope.
• Stork (a Fluor company): Stork provides integrated maintenance, modification, and integrity services to offshore oil & gas, including mechanical handling and lifting solutions; a much broader incumbent whose lifting safety services overlap with First Competence but as part of a wider asset services portfolio.

Regional players

• Atlas Industrial Services (formerly part of Worley): Atlas Industrial Services provides onshore and offshore industrial services in the UK, including lifting operations and access solutions, with a similar North Sea-focused footprint to First Competence but serving a broader asset services scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FirstCompetence
• Facebookfacebook.com/firstcompetence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-competence-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Competence Ltd