|
|
|
|
|
|
OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY "ACCELERATES" ACTION TO TACKLE IMMEDIATE SKILLS SHORTAGES
| Date: | 14 Jun 2006 | | Details: | A multi-million pound programme, including £1 million in direct funding from OPITO and the Offshore Training Foundation, to address immediate skills shortages in the oil and gas industry is launched in Aberdeen today (13 June, 2006). The OPITO Accelerate programme is an innovative mix of products and services, which highlights jobs available in the oil and gas industry today and paves direct routes into employment.
Accelerate was developed in response to research carried out at the end of last year by OPITO, the UK oil and gas industry's training organisation, for the Industry Leadership Team (ILT). The study, which surveyed over 200 companies and industry trade associations, revealed immediate shortages in certain key areas of offshore work, including technicians, riggers, scaffolders and drilling floormen.
In collaboration with industry employers and with contributions in kind from the sector's trade associations, OPITO has created seven programmes under the Accelerate brand. Three are already up and running, with a further four to follow later this summer.
The three Accelerate programmes that are now live are:
· Accelerate "Oilandgas4u" is a dedicated website (http://www.oilandgas4u.com) which gives information about current oil and gas activities and the career opportunities these bring, highlighting specific areas where jobs are available. Users can take a taster test to see how their skills and experience match up and will be directed straight to companies who are recruiting.
· Accelerate "Check In" is the next stage. It is a computer-based skills screening tool used by employers to evaluate potential and current employees against industry job profiles. Companies can also invite candidates to take the supervised computer-based test at their nearest approved assessment centre and will provide objective and timely feedback on their employment prospects at little cost to either party.
· Accelerate "New Start - Rigging" training programme aims to increase the number of qualified riggers for jobs offshore. It is open to everyone, irrespective of previous experience. Thirty-eight trainees have been recruited onto the first batch of training courses. After six weeks' intensive training onshore, the new entrants will then move to the workplace to continue their development. OPITO plans to run a series of training courses throughout 2006 and 2007.
The remaining four Accelerate programmes in development are:
· Two further Accelerate "New Start" programmes for scaffolders and drilling floormen;
· Accelerate "Technician Transfer" which addresses the immediate requirements for maintenance, instrumentation, process and electrical technicians, by managing the transition of people with technical experience from other sectors into jobs in the oil and gas industry;
· Accelerate "Understanding" is the process the industry will now use to investigate reported skills shortages and evaluate the level of response required. Shortages of geoscientists, subsurface and subsea engineers are currently being explored.
Malcolm Webb, Chief Executive of UKOOA, member of the Industry Leadership Team and chairman of OPITO, said: "Accelerate is a collective response to some of the immediate challenges faced by the UK oil and gas industry in attracting skilled people to work on our operations. It is an excellent example of what cross-industry collaboration can achieve; and we can all take great heart from this. However, this is just the beginning. The Accelerate programme launched today will grow and develop as OPITO continues its work with the industry to attract and develop the careers of the people we need to secure the future of UK oil and gas. I encourage you to log in to www.oilandgas4u.com to find out more!"
David Doig, OPITO Chief Executive, said: "One of the key benefits of the Accelerate New Start and Technician Transfer programmes is that participants are employed from day one. The training leads to guaranteed jobs on completion. This is because the programmes are based on real recruitment needs, and their content responds to the industry's specific skills requirements." | | Contact: | Elisabeth Glover
ILT Communications
UKOOA, 3rd Floor, The Exchange 2
62 Market Street, Aberdeen AB11 5PJ
Tel. 01224 577264/577250
Email: eglover@ukooa.co.uk |
 Back to press releases
For all press enquiries please contact:
Trisha O'Reilly at UKOOA Tel: 0207 802 2422 Email: toreilly@ukooa.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
