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Oil and gas giant opens Redcar & Cleveland training academy

International oil and gas firm Swagelok has opened a new North East base, following a partnership with Redcar & Cleveland College.

The developer and provider of fluid system solutions for the oil and gas and process industries has teamed up with the college to develop the next generation of engineering talent.

Swagelok’s products, assemblies and services are delivered through a global network of sales and service centres, and the company’s authorized sales and service centre for Scotland, Teesside and Ireland has now opened a base within the college’s Oil & Gas International Training Academy.

The move is designed to position the academy as a world-leading hub for the development of oil and gas workers – both at home and overseas – and is part of a wider drive to improve Britain’s competitiveness in this key sector.

The partnership with Swagelok Scotland Teesside Ireland will allow the academy to expand its range of industry training to include nationally accredited (ECITB) Small-bore Systems courses, Swagelok Certified Tube Fitting & Inspection courses, Medium & High Pressure Cone & Thread Installation and Tube-bending courses. Online learning is also available through the “Swagelok U” (Swagelok University) programme, which delivers a range of web-based industrial training courses.

This will add to the academy’s existing training provision, which covers many areas including oil and gas, electrical/ electronics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, plant process engineering, business, management, finance, IT, administration, construction, civil engineering and occupational safety.

The improved training package will provide students with a route to a career in a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, food and drink, defence and petrochemical.

The partnership with Swagelok Scotland Teesside Ireland comes after Redcar and Cleveland College was named The National College for Oil and Gas, an initiative jointly funded by government and industry. Its aim is to train the next generation of oil and gas engineers and other specialists, meet the onshore industry’s future skills needs and provide first-class qualifications and career opportunities for young people.

Graeme Wood, oil & gas project development manager at Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “The collaboration with Swagelok is a significant milestone in the development of the academy. It demonstrates our ambition to tackle skills shortages and improve Britain’s competitiveness in key industry sectors. Locally it will have a huge influence by driving more investment into Teesside and raising the area’s profile as an international oil and gas centre of excellence.”

In addition to its training services, Swagelok Scotland Teesside Ireland runs a Customer Technical Solution & Support Centre out of the Redcar facility.

Peter O’Connor, managing director of the centre, said: “We are delighted to team up with Redcar & Cleveland College and are excited by the potential of this academy. For many students it will provide a pathway to higher education or a rewarding career in a range of exciting engineering-related industries.”

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