Wood Group PSN is a growing global business, offering a range of services in the oil and gas sector. The company, based in Aberdeen, has recently introduced a new initiative called Re-Engineer, which aims to provide ex-military personnel with the opportunity to transfer their skills into the oil and gas sector.
In an article published on the WoodGroup PSN site, Mike Riungu, technical training and development lead, says “Re-Engineer is one of our most important people development initiatives. It represents our investment in the future of our workforce and our industry”, and also adds that the success of the business is dependent on its ability to attract, develop and retain the best people.
The Re-Engineer project is now well underway and, having completed their resettlement with the Career Transition Partnership, eleven Service leavers went on to join the initiative. The candidates recently started work on some of the organisation’s busiest offshore projects, having completed phase one of the training and recruitment programme. This involved an eight week intensive training course developed in collaboration with the ECITB (Engineering & Construction Industry Training Board), to prepare them with the necessary skills, knowledge and competency to work offshore safely. This resulted in each of the candidates gaining Vocational Qualification (VQ) Level 2.
The next phase of the programme comprises 18 months of structured on the job training and development offshore, with candidates typically spending much of the time offshore on some of Wood Group PSN’s busiest North Sea projects, working towards completing a diploma in Maintenance Engineering – Instrument & Controls, the replacement for VQ level 3.
The company is well aware of the transferrable qualities held by Service leavers, and Mike says, “each individual brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience to the company at a time when many of our experienced workforce are contemplating their hard-earned retirement. Together we are working to revitalise and rejuvenate our industry for the next generation.”
Thanks to the success of the project so far, Wood Group PSN is in the process of making the Re-Engineer programme a routine employment initiative, with plans to hold another programme later this year.
Click here to visit the Wood Group PSN website.