When teenager Paul Breen joins his classmates at Aberdeen College today (Sep 2) he will mark a milestone in the history of the oil and gas industry by being the third generation of his family to work in the energy sector.
The 17-year-old, from Kirkintilloch near Glasgow, is following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who have both enjoyed long careers working on and offshore.
Paul is one of 100 young people in this year’s intake of students on OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy’s popular modern apprenticeship scheme. The four year course will see him train as an electrical instruments technician, gaining vital theory-based knowledge and on-the-job training before embarking on a full-time career in the industry.
He will be based at Aberdeen College’s Altens training centre in the city.
“I heard about the MA scheme and it seemed like a really good opportunity,” said Paul. “My dad and grandfather told me a lot of stories about working in the industry when I was growing up and while there’s a lot of hard work involved, I’m really looking forward to getting started on the course work.
“I spent a week at my dad’s office as work experience while on school break and he showed me a video of what living offshore is like, the travelling by helicopter and how people spend their free time. I wasn’t expecting there to be stuff like TV’s in the rooms or computer access so it was actually more comfortable than I would have expected working on an offshore installation in the middle of the sea to be.
“I really love to travel and a career in the industry could take me around the world. I can’t wait to really get started and I’m going to make sure I’m open to any experiences that present themselves.”
Paul’s father, Chris, 42, started out as an apprentice pipefitter in 1982 and worked at the Grangemouth refinery before going offshore for the first time in 1992, working his way up the ladder to his current position of shutdown coordinator for Petrofac Brownfield in Aberdeen.
He is delighted to see his son following the family tradition.
“I’m very proud of Paul for choosing this industry. It has given me a lot of opportunities over the years and perhaps hearing me talk about my experiences in places like Azerbaijan, Russia and Algeria has inadvertently rubbed off on him,” he said.
“Oil and gas is often labelled a sunset industry but there’s huge potential for young people coming into it as it can open a lot of doors. I firmly believe that it will give Paul the experience and confidence he needs to go on and achieve anything he wants to in the future.”
Thomas Breen, known as Tam, worked for many years as a foreman on the Claymore platform in the North Sea and across South Africa before retiring seven years ago. He too began his career as a pipefitter and worked side by side with his son for a spell when the pair were based at the St Fergus gas terminal in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, together.
Now aged 73, he too is happy to see his grandson follow in his footsteps:
“Chris has done well for himself and I also did well out of the industry so I have no doubt that Paul will be the same,” he said.
“Back when I started it was very new and they only thought there would be 30 or 40 years worth of work in it but its still going strong. In all my time I’ve never heard of there being three generations of a family being in oil and gas so that’s something the whole family can be proud of.”
The Modern Apprenticeship scheme, run by the Academy on behalf of the industry, has seen 860 young men and women enter the workforce in the seven years since its inception. With a retention rate of 91% - far above the national average of approximately 55% - it equips students with the skills and knowledge to work as process operations technicians, or as maintenance technicians in electrical, instrumentation and mechanical disciplines.
David Doig, chief executive of OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy, said: “It’s not unusual to have fathers and sons both working in the industry but it is rare to have three generations of the same family so we are delighted to be able to welcome Paul onto the Modern Apprenticeship scheme.
“It is encouraging to see such enthusiasm from young people wanting to come into oil and gas as they recognise it offers them a wide range of careers and opportunities unlike any other industry. Like all the other apprentices embarking on their courses this week, we are confident Paul has a great future ahead of him.”
Entry for the 2009 Modern Apprenticeship scheme will open in February. For more information visit www.opito.com
Posted by Online Data on Tuesday, September 02, 2008 14:54
Location Aberdeen
Category Oil Industry Organisation Information
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