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Maersk Training to help the unemployed get into offshore wind industry

Maersk Training is looking to the future of the renewables industry, with a search for the next generation of offshore technicians.

The training provider, based in North Shields and part of the international Maersk Group, will be welcoming job seekers at the RenewableUK 2014 Annual Conference and Exhibition’s careers day in Manchester, providing advice and information to those looking to take their first steps into the rapidly growing renewables sector.

The careers day is free to attend via online pre-registration and will run from 9:30 until 16:00 on Thursday November 13th, the third and final day of the wider conference. Maersk Training’s instructors and staff will be advising on their range of educational programmes and courses, including the Level 1 Certificate in Becoming a Wind Turbine Technician (Onshore and Offshore) and Level 2 Diploma in Staying Safe in the Wind Industry (Onshore and Offshore), which have already seen a number of delegates find new work offshore.

Stuart Cameron, UK Managing Director at Maersk Training, said: “Tough economic times mean unemployment rates remain high. Encouragingly though, the offshore and wind energy sectors are expanding at a very fast pace, so there are great opportunities out there for people seeking employment.

“We are also very committed to helping those who are less financially able to improve their prospects, and that’s why we offer funding for those who are over 19, have been a UK resident for the last three years and are unemployed, as well as an amount of subsidised places.”

Johnny Chung, Shane Taylor and Michael Weightman are the latest trainees to breeze into new jobs after graduating from Maersk Training’s ‘Staying Safe in the Wind Turbine Environment (Onshore and Offshore)’ Level 2 Diploma. Johnny is now a wind turbine technician for Boston Energy, the same role that Shane fills at Holleman Heavy Lift in Romania, whilst Michael is an electrician at Windhoist.

As well as practical, work-based modules such as electrical awareness, working at height and first aid training, Maersk’s diploma courses offer instruction in other fields such as first aid, employability and career advice. Delegates are schooled in how to prepare an eye-catching CV and improve their interview technique.

It’s this focus on life-skills that 33-year-old Michael Weightman believes was instrumental in his success. He said: “From the beginning I was given guidance on how to create a CV, improve my interaction and interview techniques and shown how to enter the world of LinkedIn and networking. I believe this will be the beginning of a long and rewarding career within the renewable and wind industry.”

The RenewableUK 2014 Annual Conference and Exhibition runs from 11-13th of November at Manchester Central, with Maersk Training in attendance on Thursday 13th. The 2013 Careers Fair was attended by 800 visitors seeking information on careers in the renewables sector.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Maersk Training .