SPONSORS OF REGIONAL FOCUS
THE ENERGY SKILLS FOUNDATION PROGRAMME UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE
The Skills for Energy (SfE) partnership, piloted in the East of England, is a unique and successful example of how industry-led programmes at local level, in cooperation with the public sector and education providers, can solve skills issues.
RECOGNITION
SfE has now been recognised at the highest level. Lord Browne, former Chief Executive of BP and President of The Royal Academy of Engineering, set out recommendations in his recent report for “Making Green Growth Real: UK Offshore Wind Supply Chain”. A major recommendation was: “Roll out Energy Skills Partnerships across the UK”.
PRE-APPRENTICE ESFP Their pre-apprentice ESFP, funded by Great Yarmouth Borough Council and delivered through Lowestoft College, has also gone from strength to strength. They locally, saw an additional 11 learners graduate from the programme. Their
success was celebrated with a Gala Dinner in their honour with invited guests from Industry, funders and Lowestoft College.
ESFP GOES NATIONAL
The government is now rolling out their innovative and proven programme approach to other parts of the UK, starting with Wales and selected parts of the UK.
The programme is a Skills for Energy initiative supported by a wide range of companies and training organisations including the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and Cogent. Based at the Beacon Innovation Centre, Great Yarmouth, and supported by the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), Skills for Energy was set up to bridge the energy skills gaps and shortages in the region.
Dug Harrison, regional account manager of the ECITB, said, “This is now going to be a national programme and that’s
A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH?
There is no doubt that the Renewables industry is set for huge growth in the UK and worldwide and manning projects on the scale of the Round 3 Offshore Wind projects with the correct skilled personnel is a mammoth task. There can be little argument that ex forces personnel form a major pool of talent from which to recruit and many companies already have done so. That is not to say that recruitment from the forces does not come with its own specific challenges in terms of comprehension of skill sets, the highly specific language and culture.
BENEFITS
Forces discipline and experience There are some benefits which come with the ex service personnel which are ingrained behaviours. If you are able to choose wisely and read across your required skill set to roles within the military there’s a rich seam of dedicated and highly skilled technical, engineering and project management individuals who are ideally suited to roles within the energy sector.
Service leaver funding There are also several different streams of funding open to service leavers which can be used to bolster their credentials pre employment to align themselves closer to the required job specification. Some of the funds are even available post employment allowing for further professional development at minimal cost to the employer.
LONG TERM SOLUTIONS
Many will point at the lack of ‘experience’ as a prime reason for not recruiting from the services and, although correct in one sense, this is a somewhat short sighted viewpoint.
The renewables industry cannot continually conduct the ‘merry-go-round’ of poaching contractors and from a small pool of qualified personnel with ‘experience’. Sooner or later, wage inflation and supply restrictions will mean new blood will need to be sought. By engaging early with service leavers there is much to be gained, both financially and strategically.
RECRUITMENT SELECTION With large scale redundancies looming within all 3 services these individuals represent a sizeable reduction in training burden if used wisely but it requires a plan and knowledge of the system. Anyone can recruit people from the Forces, it’s recruiting the right ones which yields the best results.
Forces4Energy
www.forces4energy.co.uk
a real feather in the cap of the East of England and that the region was at the forefront of the energy skills agenda”
INVESTMENT
The course, which provides hands-on experience in relevant skills, was designed with employers to help young people to decide on a career in energy and to help them gain an Advanced Apprenticeship with a company.
James Murdoch, director of education and qualifications at Cogent Sector Skills Council, said apprentices were highly beneficial to employers, paying back a company’s investment with high levels of productivity. Studies had shown that apprentices would subsequently earn more than others entering the industry.
EEEGR
www.eeegr.com http://www.windenergynetwork.co.uk/enhanced-entries/eeegr/
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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