Radical Change for Final Day at Offshore Europe
10 September 2009
The Oil & Gas Academy will tomorrow (September 11) lead on a radical change to the closing day of Offshore Europe when it calls on young people to explore the diverse range of careers the industry offers by staging its flagship interactive oil and gas careers and lifestyle event at the AECC.
Re-envisioned by the Academy to provide added value to industry, Energise Your Future at OE ‘09 gives oil and gas organisations direct access to talented young people already studying the key science, technology, engineering and maths subjects needed to fill the industry skills gap in the future.
Energise Your Future is one of a number of initiatives the Academy has created aimed at providing a grassroots solution to the industry's need to develop and sustain a safe, skilled and effective workforce now and in the future.
Academy chief executive David Doig said: “The industry is taking great strides in opening up avenues of communication with young people with the aim of demystifying oil & gas and redressing many of the common misconceptions about the sector.
“The Academy is leading the charge to bring the sector alive for the next generation through a series of interactive events which give young people the chance to use their existing skills and knowledge and apply it to practical challenges similar to those experienced by science, engineering and business professionals.
“By engaging with these young people in an interactive way outwith the confines of standard lessons, we can open their eyes to the reality that oil & gas is much more than just getting hydrocarbons out of the ground. This year's final day of Offshore Europe marks a significant step for the industry in terms of engaging not only with the wider community but with the rising talent of the next generation who may well be the oil and gas decision makers of tomorrow.”
Around 350 pupils aged 15-17 from schools across Aberdeen City and Shire will be trying out a range of hands-on activities such as testing their skills on a crane simulator, exploring the inner workings of a Christmas tree, piloting a model helicopter and discovering what it's like to live on an offshore oil platform during Energise Your Future.
More than 30 companies, including BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, Total, Balmoral Group, Technip, Cameron and Maersk Oil, are taking part - each providing a unique interactive activity which raises awareness of the wide variety of careers open to young people in oil and gas.
Among the highlights will be a trip to BP's stand where pupils will be able to speak to engineers working on the Schiehallion floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, around 110 miles west of Shetland, via a live video link.
As well as touring the exhibition, pupils will hear from Offshore Europe chairman Thomas Thune Andersen, Shell geologist Caroline Gill, BP technician John-Robert Eunson and James McCallum, chief executive of Senergy. Later in the day, around 100 pupils will be visiting the drill floor of a simulated drilling rig at Weatherford's Technology and Training Centre.
Mr McCallum said: “With their vision and energy, young people are the key to ensuring a secure and sustainable energy supply for future generations. As the world moves towards a more balanced and diverse energy portfolio, the opportunities to be part of shaping the future have never been more exciting.
“As an industry we must continue to do all we can to attract the kind of innovation and creativity that has made the energy industry the exciting and vibrant place it is today.”
An industry funded, employer and trade union led organisation, the Academy is the industry's focal point for skills, learning and workforce development. Its core aim is to achieve a sustainable, safe, skilled and effective workforce both now and in the future.
It does this by working in collaboration with industry employers, learning & training providers, education & academia and partnership organisations to monitor industry-driven standards of training around the world, deliver mutual benefit through the support of industry's learning needs and raise awareness of the wide ranging career opportunities the dynamic oil and gas industry can offer.
Offshore Europe is organised by the OE Partnership which is made up of REED Exhibitions and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
