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“UK Plc is a world leader in engineering construction. We punch well above our weight and, within that, Yorkshire and the Humber is a powerhouse of engineering construction activity.” he said.
EMPLOYMENT
The Siemens facilities alone will create 1,000 jobs. Conservative estimates are that at least three times as many jobs will be created in the immediate supply chain, supporting the construction, assembly, deployment, maintenance and operation of the largest wind turbines the world has ever seen.
ABLE MARINE ENERGY PARK (AMEP) Meanwhile, on the Humber’s south bank, the sprawling proposed Able Marine Energy Park, could generate a further 4,000 jobs, with many more resulting from the ripple effect.
Adrian Wookey GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
It’s a golden opportunity, but also one that presents challenges to supply the skilled workforce to meet this new industry’s demands.
No-one is under-estimating that challenge. Indeed, the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership has identified skills as the number one priority to realise the full potential of the UK’s 'Energy Estuary'. But training providers and employers are encouraged by the Humber’s strong employment and skills base in related sectors.
THE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD (ECITB) The ECITB works closely with the Government and employers to attract, develop and qualify engineering construction personnel with precisely the skills required by the offshore wind industry. It has a regionally-based network of over 200 specialist ECITB-accredited course providers and uses best-in-class training facilities such as CATCH in North East Lincolnshire to equip engineering construction workers with a 'toolbox' of transferrable skills and competencies.
COMPLIMENTARY SKILLS
Adrian Wookey, ECITB Regional Account Manager for Yorkshire and Humberside, sees the burgeoning offshore wind industry as complementary to the Humber’s existing strong employment and skills base in sectors such as process engineering and petrochemicals.
PROFITING FROM OFFSHORE WIND INVESTMENTS
Barry Taylor, Commercial Director of Grimsby-based engineering services provider Blackrow Engineering, says “While there are already success stories of local companies profiting from offshore wind investments, the industry will really take off from late 2016 or early 2017 when the Siemens plants are operational and
RELEVANCE, VERSATILITY AND TRANSFERABILITY
Adrian says a key factor is the relevance, versatility and transferability of ECITB skills and qualifications to engineering construction roles on land and out at sea.
“We have a versatile, highly-trained and competent workforce in the various sectors in the engineering construction industry in the Humber area,” he said. “These people are equipped to transition comfortably into new sectors, such as offshore wind, and we also have the resources and training supply chain to ensure there is a facility for engineering construction employers to maintain a healthy pipeline of new entrants to be equipped to work in the industry and all of its sectors.
“Furthermore, we have the facility for the contextualisation of skills and competencies to meet the needs of each sector while still conforming to common industry standards.”
Employers within the region who are exploring opportunities within the offshore wind sector share that confidence.
“What we are now seeing is the emergence of another sector to complement the already strong and well- established sectors within this region.”
deployment of turbines to the enormous round three wind farms in the North Sea has begun.”
He added: “The workforce and skills for the offshore wind market are already here, in industries around the Humber. It’s just a question of capacity – are there enough companies with enough trained people? The requirement for numbers of people with these skills will grow, but companies like ours have highly-trained, highly-skilled people who are very adaptable and already work across many sectors.”
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Barry said the transferability of skills gained from ECITB training was demonstrated by a former Blackrow approved electrician who was now a Siemens Level 7 offshore wind technician having required just nine days training in sea survival and working at height.
“The ECITB can most definitely deliver the training that is required for the offshore wind industry, ranging from apprenticeships right up to support for masters degrees,” he said.
UNFOLDING STORY
Charlie Spencer, Chairman of Hull-based specialist engineering business Spencer Group, which has substantial renewable energy activities, says the scale of the opportunity was 'huge' for the Humber.
“There are clearly engineering and engineering construction challenges as well as supply chain and service opportunities. There are huge logistical and engineering challenges in deploying and servicing these giant structures many miles offshore.
“As a business we see the whole sector as an opportunity, but it is an unfolding story as to exactly what those opportunities are.”
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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HULL & HUMBER SPOTLIGHT ON
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