THE offshore industry is still battling its reputation for having a middle-aged workforce with periodic research persistently highlighting the need to encourage more under-24s into the sector.
That said, young blood is flowing into the sector with a new generation of graduates – many are engineers – keen to learn the ropes.
Among the youngest to make it offshore is Kevin McDonald, who fast-tracked a five-year Masters in Mechanical and Energy Engineering into four years.
Now 23, he did his first stint offshore a year ago.
McDonald secured a placement at Aberdeen-based subsea company flexlife when he was in his fourth year.
The fast-expanding Aberdeen firm needed people and he was its 10th employee at the time, but since joining, he has seen the company more than triple in size.
He has so far had the opportunity to use flexlife’s innovative flexible pipe scanning technology and annulus testing techniques offshore, as well as assisting on product development and working on a subsea-related joint industry partnership (JIP).
“One day I’ll be in a high-powered client meeting and the next I’ll be getting my hands dirty doing testing work for the JIP,” says McDonald.
“Some of the people I was at university with are sitting reviewing documents and not getting the opportunity to get stuck into practical work, so I think I’m very lucky to be at this stage so early in my career.
“I went offshore for the first time when I’d just turned 22 as the technical support on an annulus testing project for one of our engineers, and was the youngest person on the rig at that time.
“Now I’m routinely travelling offshore as an engineer and dealing with OIMs (offshore installation managers).
“But when you’re young and in my position, having to persuade senior people with years of offshore experience that you know what you’re doing can be daunting to start with.
“However, my experience is that, when they realise you know what you’re talking about, they have no issue at all with your age and even welcome the fact there are young people coming into the industry and venturing offshore.”
McDonald says his career and development have been well-structured, and reinforced with a string of external courses, including project management training, high levels of internal tutoring and a planned series of visits offshore with varying levels of support.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start. I’ve benefited from mentoring throughout and always been encouraged to push myself out of my comfort zone.
“It’s the best way to learn but I also know that there’s always support there as well.”
He adds: “I think it’s been really helpful to start off in the North Sea to build up experience before taking it to the next level and working internationally with all the extra factors of different environments and cultures.
“I definitely feel there is still a future for young people in the North Sea and a good way to get us interested is to let us go offshore to see it for ourselves.
“It’s so beneficial to see and experience it for yourself. You don’t understand it until then.”