To succeed with both short-term and long-term value creation, Equinor’s subsurface community needed a better understanding of how technical expertise, strategy and business are interconnected. Subsurface Upskilling was developed to give more than 2500 employees clearer insight into how their work contributes to the company’s overall value creation, and strengthen cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Equinor is an international energy company with strong roots in the oil and gas business. The subsurface environment plays a critical role in value creation on the Norwegian continental shelf and in the company’s strategic development. At the same time, many specialists work close with their own disciplines, with limited insight into the big picture and how technical decisions affect the full value chain.
Subsurface Upskilling was developed to address this challenge. The ambition was to strengthen understanding of the link between subsurface expertise, strategy and other disciplines across the organisation.
The program will upskill more than 2500 employees during 2025 and 2026. Specifique facilitates the course across locations throughout Norway.
The training program consists of two modules. The first is a comprehensive e-learning course that provides a shared theoretical foundation in strategy, value chains, framework conditions, and financial dynamics within the energy industry.
In the second module, participants come together for a full-day session where theory is put into practice. The day combines short lectures with extensive group work. Most of the time is spent solving technical challenges and simulating the market and operational reality Equinor meets on a daily basis.
For this purpose, Specifique has further developed our simulation tool into an advanced and technical business game. Working in teams, participants develop and execute their strategy in a realistic and dynamic energy market. They navigate strategic choices, portfolio management, and complex dilemmas, while assessing financial and commercial consequences related to cash flow, NPV, risk and joint ventures.
The simulation game highlights how technical, commercial and strategic considerations are closely connected, and why effective collaboration across disciplines is key to making good business decisions.
Reflection and peer learning are core elements of the course. Through group work, plenary discussions and dialogue between leaders and employees, participants share perspectives, challenge assumptions and build a shared understanding of Equinor’s strategic direction. The program also strengthens ownership and pride in the participants’ own work. With continued rollout in 2026, Subsurface Upskilling remains an important arena for learning, development and alignment across Equinor’s subsurface community.
