A new event to put the oil and gas industry’s future professionals through their paces saw its first winner in Aberdeen.
The Energy Apprentice challenge saw about 50 students from Aberdeen, Robert Gordon, Heriot Watt, Dundee and Edinburgh universities battle it out for the top spot – and a £300 prize.
Organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers Aberdeen Young Professionals committee, the event put the students through a quick fire quiz, an energy investment challenge, speed-dating style interviews and a ring of fire buzzer round.
Taking top spot was Lalit Bhamare, oil and gas engineering MSc at Robert Gordon University.
He said: “I am delighted to be named as SPE’s first Energy Apprentice, particularly as the competition in the last couple of rounds was hard and everyone performed extremely well.
“I’ve gained valuable experience from taking part in the event, as well as advice on how to market myself in the job place.
“The networking opportunities and hearing first hand from oil and gas companies on how to enter the industry is rare, and all of the students who took part thoroughly appreciated this.”
Taking second place was BEng mechanical engineering student at Aberdeen University Wyndham Williams and in third place was Gulbikesh Valeyeva, a BEng petroleum engineering student also at Aberdeen.
It is hoped the event, sponsored by Maersk Oil and Schlumberger, will become an annual fixture and extended to other UK cities.
SPE Aberdeen chairman Anthony Onukwu said: “The aim of the Energy Apprentice was to give students the opportunity to practice skills and experience situations and questions similar to those in a graduate assessment centre or interview situation.
“The level of talent we saw during the event was hugely promising and it is important that we continue to foster this potential.”
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