Efforts to further grow the North East’s flourishing offshores sector have received a double boost.
A group of engineering companies will today showcase their services to some of the world’s top energy companies at an event in Newcastle, while an initiative has been launched to revolutionise skills training for the sector.
Companies including BP and Shell will be in the region for the Subsea Supply Chain Capability Showcase, which combines presentations from firms including BEL Valves. Tekmar, Wilton Engineering and Osbit, with visits to operators around the region.
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Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea 海角视频, said: “The North East of England is home to world-class engineering and manufacturing capabilities and since 2012, the oil and gas sector in the region has grown by 40%. The supply chain showcase is a unique opportunity for operators to get an overview of the subsea expertise which exists in the area.
“Greater collaboration between the supply chain and operators is vital to ensuring the longevity of the sector and events such as this opens channels of communication which otherwise might not exist.”
Bill Cattanach, from the Oil and Gas Authority, said: “British industry remains a strong and competitive economy, manufacturing many of the complex components regularly used in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf today.
“On a recent visit to businesses located on the River Tyne and nearby at Blyth, the OGA leadership team was very encouraged by the scale and expertise of these companies. This event presents a great opportunity for local companies to showcase their skills and capabilities to this influential audience.”
The subsea sector in the region currently has a turnover of £1.5bn and supports 50,000 jobs, with plans for significantly growth following a turbulent few years.
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The industry has also won praise for work to develop the skills needed to develop future jobs, with an event called The Future of the North East Energy Sector - Why Collaboration is Key highlighting the partnership between Newcastle College and Port Training Services, the training arm of the Port of Blyth.
North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll and Renewable海角视频’s Hugh McNeal championed the partnership at the launch, with delegates being told of the potential benefits and opportunities for the the region as a result of the growth of the offshore renewables sector.
Mr Driscoll said: “Our devolution deal with Government is all about people; creating training, skills and employment opportunities to help them access good quality jobs and grow the region’s economy. To be developing our low carbon economy is a double benefit.
“The offshore energy sector is thriving in our region, and this partnership between Newcastle College and Port Training Services is just the kind of collaboration we need to ensure local people reap the benefits of this employment revolution and transition to renewable energy.”
Mr McNeal said: “The number of jobs in offshore wind is set to treble in the next ten years. We need to make the offshore wind industry the number one choice for people in the North East, whether young or old, for STEM graduates, for people moving out of industries that are in decline and whose skills and talent must be preserved, for people who work wonders digitally, for everyone.
“To do that we need to appeal to the widest possible pool of talent. This is going to require strong local leadership, which this partnership between Newcastle College and Port Training Services and Port of Blyth epitomises.”