Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK – UK organization OPITO has appointed Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) Oil and Gas Institute in Aberdeen to develop a new UK oil and gas skills strategy.
OPITO’s recent Workforce Dynamics Review concluded that for the UK sector to deliver on its ambitions concerning the energy transition, oil and gas production and exports, around 40,000 people will need to be recruited over the next 20 years. Of these, 10,000 will be in roles that currently do not exist.
John McDonald, CEO of OPITO, said the association had received strong industry support for the findings in its review.
“We want to be able to take swift and appropriate action to safeguard roles, up-skill the existing workforce and prepare the sector for emerging digital and data roles,” he added.
RGU’s Oil and Gas Institute will engage with industry and other parties to compile data for assessing the existing and new skills needed, with a targeted industry survey to follow in the next few months designed to determine the level of demand for skills and future capability requirements.
In addition, there will be industry workshops with operators and the supply chain to tap into the knowledge and expertise needed, including industry specialists, young professionals, and apprentices.
Paul de Leeuw, Director of the RGU Oil and Gas Institute, said: “The Skills Strategy will specifically look at the changing requirements across the sector by 2025 and will identify what new skills will be required in the future to ensure the UK continues to have world class capabilities to support the oil and gas industry and the wider energy sector.”
07/16/2018
