SARAH ALLAN
Sarah is 30 and works as an Integrity Team Lead in Aberdeen

Growing up in Aberdeen, I was always aware of the companies based locally. As a child my dad worked in the oil industry, and so did lots of my friends’ parents. Dad still works in Wells and Completions today. When I finished high school, I went to Robert Gordon University to study Mechanical Engineering and it was there I started to form an idea of the type of company I wanted to work for.

I applied and got accepted for Petrofac’s Graduate Scheme in 2011. It was a two-year rotation working in various parts of the Aberdeen office. I started off learning about Duty Holder responsibilities with the asset team and how they support the client. Then I worked with the mechanical engineers and the Projects Team for a short time before gaining experience with the Integrity Team, where I work now.

With mechanical engineering, there are so many options, so the two years of experience was great and showed me some of the different roles available to me in the industry.

I’ve learned a lot through problem solving, as we support the assets day-to-day and there’s always been a lot of variety. This can present many different challenges. I got the opportunity to go offshore for a couple of trips. I had no idea what to expect, as it felt very unknown. But it was great, and the experience offered me a good understanding of what happens there.

In my spare time I enjoy playing hockey with a local club in Aberdeen. When it comes to thinking about the future, I think it helps to keep an open mind. I never thought I’d become an integrity engineer but have found an area within engineering that I really enjoy. I still use the things I learnt in those first two years. It’s a bit like learning to drive. You only really learn when you pass and you’re doing it with real-life examples. You need to be dropped in at the deep end. Going forward, I really enjoy my job, and I’m still at the options stage. At 30 years old, I haven’t decided what I want to do in the future. I love the technical aspects of my job. And as an industry, things are always changing, which is exciting. More opportunities and projects are always coming along to keep me on my toes.

The next generation