More than 70 engineering students and sixth-year pupils from five colleges across Norfolk and Suffolk are to get first-hand experience on Friday of life in the energy industry as part of an educational day aimed at helping them decide their career paths.
Global-leading energy production technology services company, Proserv, is hosting the event at its extensive Great Yarmouth hub where the company runs its subsea controls business as part of Proserv’s global operations.
Students will first be given an introduction to the oil and gas industry at Proserv’s Viking Road facility where they will also be shown the different stages of how both a subsea control module (SCM) and subsea electronics module (SEM) are built and tested along with a demonstration of how oil and gas tubing are bent according to customer needs.
At Proserv’s Vanguard Road facility, the students will get an insight into product inspection and stock control before moving onto the company’s Edison Way site where they will see how a master control station, wellhead control panel and hydraulic power unit are constructed and tested.
Throughout the day, students will have the opportunity to interact with some of the activities as well as meet with Proserv personnel to learn about what it is like to work in the energy industry and find out more about the career opportunities.
“Energy is a vibrant and exciting industry to work in and offers long-term career opportunities on a global platform,” said Tim Barber, Engineering Manager at the Great Yarmouth hub. “Norfolk and Suffolk have a proud history in oil and gas, and Proserv is actively working to attract new talent into the industry. As part of this drive, education days like these are fundamental to giving young people a greater insight to the diverse range of career opportunities that they can successfully carve out for themselves.
“For example, there is a huge industry demand for technicians and engineers, and people entering these fields find that there are significant opportunities to further develop their skills and diversify into a wide range of specialist areas. We hope that by meeting members of the Proserv team and seeing the work carried out at our facilities, students will recognise the career prospects and consider working in the energy industry. It is an exciting and varied profession which could take them anywhere in the world, from Louisiana to Saudi Arabia or Vietnam.”
The student delegation visiting Proserv includes 70 young men and three young women from East Norfolk Sixth Form College, City College Norwich, Wymondham College, and Lowestoft College in Suffolk.
Proserv has rapidly evolved as a market leader through establishing a strong track record for delivering bespoke integrated technologies and services for the energy industry. With a focus in the drilling, production, subsea and decommissioning sectors, the company has experienced exceptional global growth which was highlighted last month (June) when chief executive, David Lamont, was named Ernst & Young Scotland Entrepreneur of the Year 2013. Judges praised Mr Lamont for moulding “a phenomenal business of a truly global nature” in overseeing a 25% year-on-year growth during his two years at the company which operates from 30 sites across the globe.
Proserv’s Yarmouth hub specialises in subsea and topside communication and control systems and subsea termination equipment for offshore production optimisation, control and monitoring to customers around the globe. It also supports operations in subsea control systems across the UK, Norway, North America, Middle East and Far East.
Proserv employed seven young people in 2102 on apprenticeships and will be taking on approximately the same number in 2013.
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