A £2.2m scheme to help over 1,200 employees boost their skills and support Pembrokeshire's growing energy sector has been announced by Science, Innovation and Skills Deputy Minister, Lesley Griffiths.
The Pembrokeshire Energy Sector Training project will help workers get the training needed to succeed in their careers and address the skills shortage within the oil and gas industry in the county.
Led by Pembrokeshire College, the three year scheme is backed with £1.4m from the Convergence European Social Fund (ESF) through the Welsh Assembly Government with further funding from the College and the private sector.
Working alongside local businesses in the sector, Pembrokeshire College will deliver work based learning to NVQ level 3 and above, as well as a range of non-accredited training, in much needed areas such as IT, maintenance, construction, engineering and management.
A laboratory will also be established at the Haverfordwest campus to train future instrumentation technicians who can work in nearby refineries. Use of software simulation programmes will help participants gain experience and skills that can be deployed in the workplace.
Deputy Minister Lesley Griffiths, said:
“Harnessing those skills needed to support the energy sector in west Wales is vital to ensure the workforce is equipped to maximise employment opportunities. Our management of EU funds provides the resources to achieve this ambition, securing highly skilled, quality jobs.”
The scheme will help businesses to develop more efficient working practices, introduce new systems and support innovation in the workplace as employees raise their skills. It is expected that this will result in new products, processes and services to drive forward growth in the sector.
Garry Thomas, Head of Workforce Skills at Pembrokeshire College added;
“This funding represents a huge training opportunity for the energy sector and its supply chain in Pembrokeshire. Through the project we are hoping to attract companies from right across the industry through the delivery of a range of training that will include bespoke courses exactly matching companies identified training needs.”
One company that could see possible benefits from the Pembrokeshire Energy Sector Training project is Jenkins and Davies Engineering, a mechanical engineering company based in Pembrokeshire that works across the UK in the petrochemical industry.
The company employs a range of skilled workers providing engineering fabrication and installation services, particularly pipework and steelwork structures, for the maintenance of oil refineries including major repairs to storage tanks.
The company also provides employment for ancillary trades such as welding inspectors and quantity surveyors.
Workshop Manager Frank Cawley said,
“As a company we are fully committed, along with Pembrokeshire College and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), in training young people through apprenticeships. The Energy Sector project will provide the much needed training especially to those people not participating in apprenticeships to up skill semi-skilled workers to NVQ Level 3 and to help develop existing tradesmen in new skills and working practices.”
“The Energy Sector project will provide the training needs and technical support for companies like ours to develop and maintain a stable position within the industry. We are a local company that would like to see a strong, skilled local workforce to make this area a leader in the field of engineering excellence.”