Local unemployed people are benefiting from free places on a newly developed qualification offered by Maersk Training in Newcastle designed to help them take advantage of job opportunities in the thriving offshore wind energy sector.
The Level 2 Diploma in Staying Safe in the Wind Turbine Environment (Onshore and Offshore) has been developed by Newcastle based Maersk Training and lasts approximately ten weeks. The Diploma covers the essential skills, knowledge and training people need to work in an offshore wind turbine environment.
Stuart Cameron, Managing Director at Maersk Training said:
“Tough economic times mean unemployment rates are high in our region. Encouragingly, the offshore wind energy sector is expanding at a very fast pace and there are numerous opportunities for people seeking employment and looking to get into a thriving industry, however learning these safety skills is a vital prerequisite.”
The recent Renewable UK Skills Manifesto estimates that by 2023 the sector will require an additional 70,500 skilled workers and clearly our qualification will go some way to filling the skills shortage in the sector.
“This is a great chance to offer people who might not otherwise be financially able to improve their prospects, an opportunity to get their foot on the ladder and gain a valued qualification.”
“We are very excited to be working with Maersk Training to help local people gain access to the skills and training required for employment within the growing Wind industry.”
Following the success of a pilot course from July – September this year, a number of delegates have already obtained interviews and jobs within the industry.
The Level 2 Diploma is scheduled to run every two to three months and the second cohort have recently started, with a third Diploma programmed to start in early November. To qualify for a free place, applicants must be unemployed and in receipt of benefits, be a resident in England on the start date and be aged 19 or over on 31st August 2013. People who do not qualify for a free place are eligible to apply for a place at a subsidised rate.
Feedback from Delegates:
“I have recently been employed by Boston Energy, working at Walney Offshore Windfarm, Cumbria, as a Wind Turbine Technician. The Diploma played a big part in me gaining employment.”
“I had an interview earlier this week for an Offshore Quality Management role with a world-leading Oil and Gas Company, and I have many promising replies from recent job applications. This certainly wouldn’t have been possible without the help of staff at Maersk Training Newcastle and I am genuinely grateful for this opportunity.”
“I have really enjoyed completing the Level 2 Diploma, I have met a lot of new people from all over the world. I would recommend completing the Diploma to anyone wanting a career in the wind industry. I have made new friends through doing the course and we all worked well as a team. The venues were first class, the instructors were very professional at all times and offered their help with any problems that we came across. I would, and have, highly recommended your company for any courses.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the Diploma and would recommend it to anyone wishing to get into the industry. It gave me more confidence that I could use in any industry and a good starting point for a new career.”
Maersk Training specialises in courses for the maritime, offshore oil and gas, and offshore wind sectors. An independent A.P. Moller–Maersk company, Maersk Training set up its UK training centre in Newcastle in 2007. It currently operates a total of nine training centres in Denmark, Norway, United Kingdom, India, Dubai, Singapore and Brazil.
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Press release, September 26, 2013; Image: siemens