Maersk Training, Dong Energy Spur Recruitment into Wind Industry

Global training provider Maersk Training confidently expects hundreds of job seekers to attend an Open Day event, which is held in conjunction with DONG Energy, highlighting career opportunities in the wind energy and renewables sector.

Taking place on Friday 9^th January 2015, from 10.00am to 3.00pm, it follows on from similar open days held earlier this year in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which attracted 400 people keen to learn more about Maersk Training’s range of educational programmes, including the Level 1 Certificate in Becoming a Wind Turbine Technician (Onshore and Offshore) and Level 2 Diploma in Staying Safe in the Wind Industry (Onshore and Offshore).

Held at at The Forum on 28 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, the open day is part of a drive to fill roles in the burgeoning wind industry. Representatives from Maersk Training, DONG Energy, the Job Centre and local Colleges will be in attendance.

The diploma is taught by industry experts such as Paul Richards, an ex-army engineer who was hired by Maersk Training after he completed the Level 2 diploma with flying colours.  

Adrian Macklin, Head of Operations Barrow at DONG Energy Ltd said: “As a company involved in all aspects of the wind industry, DONG Energy are pleased to endorse the Maersk Diploma for wind turbine technicians. The selection process that the candidates go through to secure a place on the course will help to improve the standard of technicians entering the local job markets in years to come.”

Twelve more careers taking off in the wind industry thanks to Maersk Training’s Diploma scheme include Johnny Chung, Shane Taylor and Michael Weightman, who have become the latest trainees to secure exciting new roles after  graduating from Maersk Training’s ‘Staying Safe in the Wind Turbine Environment (onshore and offshore)’ Level 2 Diploma.

Jonny will be US firm, Boston Energy’s latest wind turbine technician. Shane starts work at Holleman Heavy Lift in Romania as a trainee wind turbine technician and Michael joins Windhoist as an electrician. They follow swiftly in the footsteps of Stewart Brown, who recently became the first course delegate to find work in the burgeoning wind industry when he took up a role as lead electrician with Ainscough Wind Energy Service.

Michael Rennie has secured a position with Skyform, who install and service Siemens lifts on wind turbines. Anthony Davis and Arron Morton are working in Inverness via William O’Brien’s.

Shane, 37, who has a wealth of experience as a seaman and is from a construction and oil and gas background, said: “The Diploma has proven to be a valuable life changing achievement. I have gained extensive training which you cannot get on any other training course and this has led me into a career with a well-established company.  The course caters for all ages so it’s a perfect opportunity to change your life which I highly recommend to anyone.”

Johnny, 27, added: “The Maersk Level Two Diploma operates over a twelve week period. It took just ten weeks for Maersk to help me achieve my goal of starting a career within the renewable energy sector with a superior level of qualifications and competency.”

Six further graduates, including two ex-military personnel, have secured roles with DONG energy on the West Coast of England, gaining valuable knowledge as wind turbine technicians, experiencing some of the most hazardous conditions in the Irish Sea. Kieran Lamb has recently been employed as a Technician for DONG Energy. He will be based at Walney Wind Farm, an offshore wind farm 14km west of Walney Island off the coast of Cumbria, in the Irish Sea.

The twelve week diploma course offers additional CV and employment support, working with industry and the individual, ensuring that the graduate receives the best possible opportunity to gain employment in the industry. Competencies include working in confined spaces, electrical awareness, working at height, manual handling, sea survival, first aid and fire awareness.

It’s this focus on life-skills that 33-year-old Michael Weightman believes was instrumental in his success. He said: “From the beginning I was given guidance on how to create a CV, improve my interaction and interview techniques and shown how to enter the world of LinkedIn and networking. I believe this will be the beginning of a long and rewarding career within the renewable and wind industry.”

Maersk Training, part of the internationally operating Maersk Group, began running its ‘Staying Safe in the Wind Turbine Environment (onshore and offshore)’ level 2 diploma earlier this year after a successful pilot scheme in 2013. Since then a growing number of delegates have found employment with a wide range of companies in the burgeoning wind and renewables industry.

Funding for the diploma may be available to people that are unemployed providing they have been a UK resident for the past three years and are aged 19 years or over.  Subsidised places are available for those that don’t qualify.

[mappress mapid=”14991″]

Press release; Image: Maersk Training