OPITO, the oil and gas industry skills organisation, this week welcomed a delegation of Westminster-based politicians on a fact-finding mission about how the sector is addressing its long-term skills challenges.
Shadow SNP Westminster group leader Pete Wishart MP; Aberdeen North MP and Shadow SNP spokesperson at the House of Lords, Kirsty Blackman; Conservative MP Christopher Chope; and Shadow SNP spokesperson at the Scotland Office, Margaret Ferrier MP visited OPITO’s UK headquarters on the outskirts of Aberdeen on Monday (November 30th) to hear how industry is collaborating with employers and education to secure the pipeline of talent for the future of the UK Continental Shelf.
Group chief executive David Doig welcomed the delegation and outlined OPITO’s role as the focal point for skills, training and workforce development.
“Maximising the recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resource and sustaining employment in the North Sea’s world-class supply chain will require collaboration and skilled people,” said Mr Doig.
“A huge amount of work is underway to ensure the UK energy sector will emerge from the current downturn in safe and competitive shape to grasp the opportunities that will continue to present themselves in the future.
“The Scottish and UK governments have a critical role to play in supporting the industry to build a sustainable, competent and safe oil and gas workforce to secure that future so we are pleased to have been able to highlight some of the initiatives currently underway and the benefit they will bring to UK plc.”