A new online tool aims to help skilled workers in the oil and gas sector find job opportunities in the wider engineering sector, supported by a pipeline of large energy and infrastructure projects.
The existing Talent Retention Solution scheme, which is currently used by more than 1,000 engineering and manufacturing companies, will now be supplemented by an additional website specifically for those working in the oil and gas industry.
According to EngineeringUK, the nation’s economy will need more than 180,000 people with engineering skills every year to 2022.
The measures are outlined in the Oil and Gas Workforce Plan published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to ensure the industry can better plan for future workforce requirements over longer-term timescales, given the highly cyclical nature of the sector.
Business Minister Anna Soubry commented: “The future success of our economy depends on having the people with the right skills in the right jobs, and that’s why it’s vital we retain the talents of our highly-skilled workers currently in the oil and gas industry.
“There is already considerable demand for these skills, whether it’s for nuclear new build, the fast-growing renewable energy sector or the nascent decommissioning industry.”
The pipeline for planned public and private infrastructure to 2021 and beyond is £425bn.
According to data published by the UK Commission on Employment and Skills last year, the energy sector is already facing a substantial skills shortage, particularly for highly-skilled engineers and technicians.
UK Government Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd added: “Our workforce in the UK is one of the mostly highly skilled in the world, and their valuable skills are transferable right across the engineering sector.
“The action we are taking will ensure that we hold on to that talent and provide more opportunities for those most directly affected by the low oil price.”
David Mundell Scottish Secretary said: “Engineers and skilled workers in Scotland’s oil and gas sector are world class, and many industries could benefit from their expertise and experience, from major infrastructure projects to new and innovative energy solutions.
“While the sector has been tested over recent years, time and time again it has shown a capacity to rise to the challenges confronting it, and that is due to the resilience and skill of the people working within it. This tool will allow other industries to reap the rewards of the talent pool of the UK’s oil and gas workers.”
In addition to the new online portal, the Government expects workers in the oil and gas industry to benefit from the extension to Advanced Learner Loans.
This means it’s now possible to apply for loans for qualifications at Levels 3-6, important for enabling workers in the oil and gas industry to study at higher levels and gain the skills to transition into infrastructure or other engineering sectors.
