The document discusses Wood Group's Re-Engineer programme which recruits and trains former armed forces and merchant navy personnel. Over the past two years, 35 technicians have completed the programme and are now working in operations and maintenance roles onshore and offshore. In May, 32 more former armed forces and merchant navy graduates will finish their initial eight-week, industry-accredited training and start jobs with Wood Group. The programme provides an opportunity for personnel with 10+ years of military experience to transition their skills to the offshore oil and gas industry.

1. Edition UK
ISSUE 4

2. A PERFECT FIT
UK 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.