Member Article

Local MP becomes engineering apprentice for a day

North Tyneside MP, Mary Glindon, got a taste of what life is like as an engineering apprentice this week when she visited Fabricom Offshore Services as part of National Apprenticeships Week.

The activity, which was part of a national campaign, saw Mrs Glindon spend the day at the engineering company, where she shadowed one of six apprentices recruited this year to the business. Darius Bahrami, aged 18 from Sunderland welcomed the local MP into the engineering project office and shared his experience as an apprentice.

Mrs Glindon observed a number of sessions throughout the day including a ‘Lessons Learnt’ presentation by one of Fabricom’s now qualified apprentices, Carl Blewitt. Carl, aged 23 from North Shields explained the process that took him from being an apprentice to becoming a Junior Mechanical Engineer.

Mary Glindon, North Tyneside MP said, “It’s been fabulous to come back and visit Fabricom Offshore Services, one of the leading businesses in North Tyneside to celebrate National Apprenticeship week. It’s been great to see how the apprenticeship scheme is now working and how professional, well poised, supported and most of all confident the apprentices are. The apprenticeship scheme Fabricom Offshore Services provide is an excellent example of why young people should consider apprenticeships, particularly in engineering as it promises such a lucrative and successful career”.

Darius is one of six apprentices recruited in September 2012 undertaking a Four Year Modern Apprenticeship Scheme with the fast-growing company. The scheme offers classroom-based training at Tyne Metropolitan College, three years’ on-site experience at Fabricom’s engineering head office, practical training in various engineering disciplines, as well as NVQ Level 3, HNC qualifications and sought-after industry experience.

Fabricom’s commitment to skills and development was recently highlighted through the launch of its own knowledge centre, the Fabricom Offshore Services Academy. The Academy was commended by Dr Alix Thom, Oil & Gas UK’s Employment and Skills Issues Manager saying it was vital the industry had sufficient skills and experience to meet the demand.

“We applaud Fabricom Offshore Services for their investment in this dedicated training facility which is testament to their clear and long sighted vision for the future of their business in this country”.

The Academy, developed by engineers for engineers has already over 30 people undergoing apprenticeships, graduate training programmes and professional development schemes. The Academy promises to provide a fully integrated training, learning and development set of programmes aimed at graduates, apprentices and people looking to upgrade or diversify their skills.

Since its inception in 2007, Fabricom Offshore Services has rapidly evolved as a leading provider of brownfield engineering, procurement, construction and project management services to the offshore oil and gas industry through consistent and robust delivery of a range of technical services and solutions.

The company, which has a growing employee base of around 320 across three locations, specialises in multi-discipline engineering, design, procurement, project management, construction, installation and commissioning.

Mary Glindon opened the new Fabricom Offshore Services head office building in March 2012.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jodie McAndrew .