Developing new talent to reach future career heights

The next generation of the oil and gas industry are ready to reach for future career heights after an action-packed first week with Petrofac’s Offshore Projects & Operations (OPO) business in Aberdeen. Twenty seven new graduates and seven trainees have joined OPO’s graduate and apprentice programmes this year, with aspirations of becoming the engineering and business leaders of the future.  

Before embarking on their first working week, the graduates and trainees received a full induction programme which gave them an introduction to the oil and gas industry and to Petrofac. The week also included a team building day at Transition Extreme, a world-class extreme sports facility in Aberdeen, where they took part in a range of activities at height, working closely together as a team to problem solve and overcome challenges.

The OPO graduate programme started in 2009 with an intake of two people. Since then it has recruited more than 80 graduates, whilst gaining accreditation from four major institutes: the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).   

In the first two years graduates undertake a structured programme comprising of key learning elements. Following completion, they are given a supervised development role, receiving on-going support from a ‘buddy’ for a further two years to help them reach chartered status or full professional membership within their discipline.  

Eileen Innes, Engineering Graduate, said: “I’d heard from others within the industry that Petrofac offered a well-structured programme, where you would be developed and mentored to progress not just within the Company but within your own discipline, by becoming chartered.  

“Since my arrival I have been made to feel welcome and very much part of the Company. I have already been inducted into a project which means I can start to learn and become involved in the interesting and innovative work going on within the team.”

Louise Ferguson, Head of Organisational Development, Petrofac, said: “I’m very pleased to be able to welcome 34 new graduates and trainees to the business. In order to recruit new talent, we need to offer a highly credible training and development programme.  

“Our aim is to bring more people into the industry by investing in the next generation, so that they can become our leaders of the future. This scheme links into Petrofac’s continuing investment into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, encouraging young people to remain engaged in STEM topics at school.”  

Petrofac is sponsoring the TechFest secondary schools programme, providing presentations to pupils on topics relating to STEM. Through supporting initiatives such as TechFest, Petrofac hopes to see these young people come through as its future graduates.