Part of an initiative by Careers Scotland to promote Engineering and Science in schools has been backed by the oil and gas sector through two of Helix’s UK subsidiary companies: Canyon Offshore and Well Ops.
The initiative aims to help improve teachers’ knowledge and understanding of the subsea industry and the range of employment and training opportunities it offers young people.
A handful of science and technology teachers from across Aberdeen City and Shire have taken part in the scheme which sees them spend two to three days with subsea oil and gas firms as a way of gaining first hand experience of the skills, knowledge and behaviours required in various working environments in the energy sector.
The scheme builds on the Excellence in Education through Business Links programme, organised and managed by Careers Scotland.
By taking part, teachers are able to translate the experience and information gained from the placement back to the classroom for use with pupils when making curricular and career choices.
The Gordon Schools’ Technology teacher, Graeme Mitchell, carried out an industrial three-day placement with Helix at the beginning of December. Whilst Helix is a global operation, Graeme’s placement saw him working with a team of engineers from its UK subsidiary companies: Well Ops and Canyon Offshore.
Based in Dyce, these two companies aimed to provide Graeme with a better understanding of the industry and their businesses as well as offering a hands-on experience with technologies such as their remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) and well intervention technologies.
Of his experience with the Helix group, Graeme said: “If it’s all school work and room based learning, then youngsters are not able to relate what they do in class to the outside world. I have to be able to relate their studies within class to real life engineering practice.
I now have access to documentation, pictures, displays, DVD’s and visual aids, all of which will help me to relate classroom technology to industrial practice.
If the youngsters within school are showing interest in Engineering, I can now help answer questions they may have and share my own experiences of the placement.
Hands on heart, every single effort was made by everyone that I spoke to at Helix, to make me feel really welcome, even although their daily business had to be attended to at the same time. It’s been a very positive experience for me.”
Steve Nairn, General Manager for Well Ops, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this initiative. It’s a fantastic way of highlighting this exciting industry to those that effectively communicate the enthusiasm back into the classroom.
By highlighting how close the curriculum is used in the workplace, particularly with subjects such as Maths, Physics and Chemistry and Technological Studies, we hope teachers like Graeme can be better placed to encourage and educate their pupils on careers with these chosen disciplines.”
Angus Kerr, Vice President at Canyon Offshore, added: “These are exciting times for Canyon, we’ve got extraordinary kit and as leaders in our field of subsea intervention services we’re in a great position to show how exciting the industry can be.
We hope our efforts can make a positive contribution to the future of our industries potential workforce and that it encourages other schools and businesses to also get involved with the initiative.”
For further information on the Teacher Placement initiative contact Lynn Third at Careers Scotland on 01224 285205 or e-mail lynn.third@careers-scotland.org.uk.