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Offshore Regional News

Aberdeen is recognised as the Offshore Energy Capital of Europe. Regarded as the centre of excellence and a world leader in downhole drilling and sub-sea technology.

It is over 30 years since oil first flowed in the North Sea.

More than a quarter of a century of:

• Exploration, Development and Production
• Experience
• Creating a Mature Infrastructure

A whole new industry of Operators, Contractors and Service companies has grown up to service the North Sea with 100,000 jobs in Scotland dependant on oil and gas.

Aberdeens engineering industry has been at the forefront of developing new technologies for the worlds oil & gas industries at every phase of offshore development. The engineering sector is firmly at the leading edge of offshore technology, creating innovative solutions in electrical engineering, mechanical, instrument, process and structural engineering.

Offshore News

Congratulations to Kelly Horne, Linsay Wares and Kim Reid, of Aker Solutions, for achieving the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Foundation Certificate in Learning and Development.   This training was enabled with the support of ECITB Regional Discretionary Funding.  The learner’s achievements were recognised at an event held at Aker Solutions offices where the successful learners were presented with their certificates by Jennifer Clark, Team Lead - Training, Development & Competence (TDC) Aker Solutions, and Dawn Brown of CHRysos.

Over the last year, Aker Solutions training departments have joined forces to introduce a slightly different mode of studying for staff to enhance their knowledge and experience.

Kelly, Linsay, Kim and colleague Sarah Thomson of Aker Subsea all participated in home study, in-house workshops and gathered work-based evidence to complete their modules, all of which contributed to the certificate. The qualification, which was delivered by cHRysos HR Solutions, has enhanced their knowledge and experience, while also giving them the opportunity to do some networking.

Summing up her experience, Kelly said: “As this was the first time I had ever done any studying I wasn’t really sure what to expect but at the same time, I was looking forward to having a qualification under my belt. I was nervous but excited.

“Standing up and presenting was a challenge but I am now quite comfortable to get up and talk in a group. Trying to fit in the studying with home life and work was a challenge and I was stressed for some time! I was glad to be on, and complete the course with work colleagues, as this helped me to persist and in the end we all passed. I am delighted that I passed and can benefit and strengthen the TDC team.”

Linsay added: “After studying at college and university - where the methods of assessment were mostly exams or essays - gathering evidence and attending workshops was all new to me. However, it has allowed me to develop a new way of learning and I am now able to relate more to the personnel offshore in the way they are assessed through our competence system. Completing the course alongside my colleagues was a definite high for me, it was so nice to have others around me going through the same thing and sharing our thoughts on various questions.”

Jennifer Clark of Aker Solutions paid tribute to the teams’ hard work. “The girls showed great team spirit and support for each other whilst undertaking their qualification,” she said. “There is a huge benefit to the organisation as we now have a training and development function followed by a formal, recognised qualification. Their skills have also been enhanced and can be transferred into their day-to-day work.”

Susan Smart of ECITB attending the awards commented “supporting the Training and Development staff to achieve qualifications within their roles has delivered higher performance within the function for Aker Solutions. Ultimately this assists ECITB in working towards its goals of ensuring a suitably skilled and qualified workforce for Engineering Construction.”

Skills Scotland Event North East

School pupils from all over the North East of Scotland showed their talent for Engineering Construction at the Skills Scotland event held at the AECC on the 20^th November. The Offshore team were impressed by the levels of engagement, and the construction skills, of the 3^rd – 6^th year pupils whose brief was to design and construct a mast to support a wind turbine within a 15 minute timescale; a task that the Offshore team took over an hour to complete!!!

As you can see the ECITB stand was a hive of activity throughout out the day with over 2070 students and teachers from 34 local schools attending the event.

EM&I Signs Up to the Skills & Training Charter

EM&I has become the latest company in the Offshore Region to sign up to the ECITB Skills & Training Charter to demonstrate their commitment to the skills of the industry.

While business confidence among contractors in the region is on the increase (as reported in the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce 17^th Oil and Gas Survey of Nov 2012), training existing staff is one of the favoured routes of acquiring new skills within the workforce. 

The commitment to the Skills Charter by individual companies and the offshore industry to work closely with the ECITB supports the the on-going drive to ensure a fully skilled and competent workforce is delivered on time for the continued success for the industry. .

Paul Gautier, Technical Manager of EM&I commented “EM&I supports in principle, the goals and commitments of the Skills and Training Charter and see its implementation key for providing a fully skilled and competent workforce"