Member Article

Apprentices & trainees crucial to OGN’s future

Offshore Group Newcastle (OGN), one of the UK’s leading EPC service providers to the offshore oil & gas and offshore wind energy sectors, have pleasure in announcing that six trade engineering apprentices and two rigging trainees and have been hired at the OGN Hadrian yard facility on Tyneside.

OGN firmly believe that apprenticeship and trainee schemes are crucial to the future recruitment needs and success of the business in the years to come as the industry as a whole continues to struggle to come to terms with an ever ageing workforce.

David Edwards, Chief Executive Officer at OGN said: “We are delighted to announce the recruitment of eight young apprentices and trainees onto our Hadrian yard facility. With the re-emergence of heavy industry on the River Tyne it is essential skills and knowledge are passed down to the next generation in order to maintain our operational capabilities to develop a sustainable business for our future”.

Following the success of hiring four final year apprentices last year, OGN in conjunction with Tyne North Training have hired 6 apprentices in the disciplines of Fabrication and Welding. The apprenticeship programme has been developed to meet OGN requirements in order to develop the apprentices’ full potential. The four year scheme will be managed by Tyne North Training, in conjunction with South Tyneside College.

“Tyne North Training is delighted to be working alongside OGN as they invest in their workforce by recruiting new apprentices. Tyne North Training will manage the full apprenticeship programme, utilising experience and guidance which has been built up over many years of working with and supporting local engineering companies. It is fantastic news for the region that a large engineering employer is investing in youngsters for the long term future” said Business Development Manager at Tyne North Training Limited, Andrew Thorpe.

In addition to the apprenticeship scheme OGN has also recruited two new rigging trainees. The two year trainee scheme, which has been customised by OGN, will be run by Advanced Industrial Solutions (AIS) Ltd, in conjunction with Newcastle College Energy Academy.

Leading industrial training specialist, AIS will teach OGN’s Rigger ‘Improvers’ the specialist skills required to manoeuvre and lift extremely large and heavy objects and work safely in the offshore environment. This training will take place from AIS’s state-of-the-art training facility on North Tyneside. OGN has worked very closely with AIS to ensure the bespoke training mirrors real life scenarios and enables the apprentices to build skills and competencies for the workplace so they can contribute to OGN’s on-going projects.

The apprentices and trainees will now work alongside and be mentored by highly experienced foreman and other members of OGN’s workforce, who will aim to pass on their wealth of knowledge and expertise.

Ross Close, apprentice fabricator said: “OGN have given me an unbelievable opportunity to complete my apprenticeship in the local area. I am looking forward to learning my trade from OGN’s highly skilled workforce who have vast experience in the industry”.

If you are interested in an apprenticeship with OGN please contact Katie Illingworth at Tyne North Training on 0191 262 6860 or email tnt@tynenorthtraining.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Andrew Thorpe .