Edition UK

ISSUE 4

A PERFECT FITUK Innovation

In January this year, the UK government announced the last round of armed forced redundancies, ending uncertainty and removing a final 1500 people from our Army, Royal Navy and RAF. Although provided with a robust settlement package by the Military of Defence (MOD), those affected still face an uncertain future, looking for new lives and new employment.

So what do ex-armed forces personnel have to offer a new employer? Not only are they often multi-skilled, but personal qualities developed by the military system are of great as well. Traits such as a can-do attitude, decisiveness, integrity, flexibility, team-work, mentoring, and leadership skills are all part of the military training. Many military trades specialists are exceptionally well trained and multi-skilled, with the ability to fix almost anything when it breaks down in the field.

Through our Re-Engineer programme, we have been recruiting and training ex-armed forces personnel since 2006. Mark Middleton, one of our new trainee instrument technicians who came to us from the RAF says “I choose Wood Group as I heard from previous successful Re-Engineer transition workmates that the company ran an exceptional programme for forces technicians to transfer their skills into the offshore industry…The whole process was swift. In my case from CV to acceptance took about five weeks.” Over the past two years, 35 instrument, electrical and mechanical technicians have been through the programme and are now working in our operations & maintenance function in on and

offshore roles. In May this year, a further 32 former armed forces personnel and Merchant Navy graduates will complete their initial training and start their jobs with us. This year, for the first time, and in partnership with the ECITB (Engineering & Construction Industry Training Board), a number of Merchant Navy Re-Engineer recruits are being trained in a pilot programme as production technicians.

“We offer each of our Re-Engineer recruits a comprehensive eight week, discipline specific, training programme, accredited by industry, trade and educational award agencies,” says Gordon Macfarlane, our Re-Engineer lead. “All Re-Engineer recruits are competent technicians in their own right and have completed a relevant apprenticeship, or achieved the appropriate qualification and all have vast practical experience. What we do is provide the industry specific training, making them ready for an offshore environment.”

With many of our ex-forces candidates serving for at least ten years in the armed forces, this programme provides the opportunity to become familiar with terminology and processes associated with a new industry. Ruairi Ferguson, one of our new Production Re-Engineer trainees had this to say about the programme so far: “Having come from a Merchant Navy engineering background Re-Engineer has set us up perfectly for the transition to the oil and gas industry as the systems are all very similar on the boats and the platforms. The training centre has been good and we are looking forward to getting offshore and gaining more practical experience.”

32 of our re-engineer candidates begin their training.