The oil and gas industry is marking Scottish Apprenticeship Week by celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of one of the most successful youth training schemes in Scotland. Past and present apprentices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Falkirk will join forces as the industry’s official technician training scheme reaches the significant milestone in its history.
Managed by OPITO, the skills organisation for oil and gas, in partnership with the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), operators and major contractors have invested more than GBP 120M into the programme since it was established. Now backed by more than 15 companies, it is one of the biggest industry-led MA programmes of its kind in the UK. More than 1,400 young people have entered the industry since the scheme’s formation, creating a grassroots solution to the industry-wide skills shortage.
John McDonald, UK managing director of OPITO, said, “Apprenticeship programmes are an excellent example of how an industry can proactively tackle its skills issues. The recruitment and training of technicians is critical to developing and retaining the workforce we need to continue to take on the world’s toughest energy challenges.” OPITO’s apprenticeship scheme offers a range of disciplines including process operations, electrical, instrument and control maintenance.
