Petrofac is turning to ex-Army and RAF personnel to tackle the oil and gas industry skills gap.
A new training programme – devised by the industry, Ministry of Defence and training providers – is being rolled out to turn qualified soldiers and airmen into offshore technicians and project engineers.
Experts have estimated that the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen alone will need 120,000 more people in the next 10 years.
Trainees will be employed by Petrofac from the day they begin their course – and some could be ready to go offshore within eight weeks.
Petrofac is initially recruiting offshore technicians, targeting ex-Army, Navy or RAF personnel with transferable mechanical, electrical or instrumentation skills.
Walter Thain, Petrofac’s offshore projects senior vice-president in Europe, said: “With a skills shortage right across the industry, and some major projects on the horizon, we have to look for new sources and smarter ways of recruiting at all levels, but particularly for offshore technical disciplines. Ex-forces personnel have skills that typically transfer very well to offshore industries, particularly in the technical disciplines we are focusing on.”
The course will be delivered by Petrofac Training Services and, on successful completion, they will go into permanent positions with Petrofac’s Offshore Projects and Operations business.
Plans are also being developed to recruit project engineers, who would take a longer sandwich course involving elements of training and on-the-job learning.
Candidates are being identified through the Career Transition Partnership, established by the MoD to help with resettlement of ex-service people.
Mr Thain added: “This is only a pilot but our customers have been very supportive and we are looking to expand it significantly over the next few years.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to tap into a skilled, mobile, versatile workforce and to help some talented people access a second career. With the help of a short training course, we can help bridge the gap between military skills and offshore skills and ensure that when they arrive offshore they are competent and confident to start working effectively immediately.”
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