Oil And Gas Workers Should Retrain?

expat network

Oil And Gas Workers Should Retrain?

A new online tool is designed to help skilled workers in the oil and gas sectors find job opportunities in the wider UK engineering sector, supported by the pipeline of large energy and infrastructure projects, according to the UK government.

The existing Talent Retention Solution scheme, which is used by over 1,000 companies in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, will be supplemented by a website specifically for those working in the oil and gas industry (at https://talentretention.biz/). Engineering UK estimates that the economy will need over 180,000 people with engineering skills per year to 2022.

The measures are outlined in the Oil and Gas Workforce Plan published by the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to attempt to ensure the industry can better plan for future workforce requirements over longer-term timescales, given the highly cyclical nature of the sector.

As well as the new online portal, the UK government expects workers in the oil and gas industry to benefit from the extension to Advanced Learner Loans. This means it is now possible to apply for loans for qualifications at Levels 3 to 6, which will be important for enabling workers in the oil and gas industry to study at higher levels and gain the skills to transition into infrastructure or other engineering sectors, the government says.

The pipeline for planned public and private infrastructure to 2021 and beyond is £425 billion. According to data published by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills last year (2015), the energy sector is already facing a substantial skills shortage, particularly for highly-skilled engineers and technicians.

But the government’s plan to urge oil workers into new roles in energy and engineering sectors is ‘woefully inadequate’ in addressing the North Sea’s looming jobs crisis, according to trade union Unite.

The oil market downturn has brought devastating job losses set to reach 120,000 by the end of the year, say Unite, igniting growing political concern for the future of the North Sea as reserves dwindle and investment stalls.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.