Wind industry and the National Energy Project

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Wind industry and the National Energy Project

• Energynet conference 27/11/07
• Alex Hartley

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Current situation

• All of us here recognise that Wales has much
  potential in the Renewable energy source sector
  on the global stage.
• Project objective is to ensure that the energy
  sector and their supply chains have the relevant
  skills to meet current and future demands.
• How can it be known what they actually are and
  the associated issues that limit businesses
  success?
• Appropriate Training, with Structured Outlooks
  and the Energy Institute on behalf of Welsh
  Assembly Government DCELLS deliver the National
  Energy Project.

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Agenda

• Current situation
• Aims of project
• Common issues of Energy Sector Companies
• Employers, training and development
• Standards, qualifications and the Sector Skills
  Councils
• What could any of this mean to you?
• What we would like from you (no donations!)
• EU objective 1 funding
• The Energy Institute
• Upcoming project actions
• Some results so far
• What next?

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Project aims

• Support for businesses
• Identify current and future skills needs through
  offering companies a free needs analysis
• Signpost companies to funding, support and
  training available
• Provide businesses with up to date information
  via website
• Support the skills needs of businesses wishing
  to access opportunities relating to new
  developments in the sector

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More aims

• Support for sector
• Work with Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) and
  other agencies to identify gaps in
  qualifications and training provision
• Provide WAG with information on issues affecting
  the sector
• Encourage joint initiatives between agencies to
  address issues raised
• Support the development and updating of current
  qualifications

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Leading question

• Who here currently has a fully skilled,
  qualified, professionally recognised workforce to
  meet current business requirements? What about
  utilising future opportunities?

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Employers, qualifications, training and
development

• In the UK the ethos is that that training supply
  and skills development, and the related systems
  of qualifications, should be employer-led. The
  Leitch report is widely supported by our sector
  with many of its recommendations and findings.
• Support for Competence Assurance provides the
  underpinning combination of knowledge, skills,
  understanding and behaviours that ensures
  business objectives are delivered safely and
  effectively.

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Standards, qualifications and SSCs

• National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe
  what an individual needs to do, know and
  understand in order to carry out a particular job
  role or function. Vocational Qualifications are
  achieved against these set standards.
• A Vocational Qualification is a cluster of NOS
  which together define the competences of an
  occupation.  For example, the NOS which define
  the role of a maintenance technician can be
  clustered to form a qualification called,
  Process Engineering Maintenance Level 3.  All
  qualifications have advice on how assessment for
  the award is to be carried out.

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What does this mean to you?

• You need a knowledgeable, fit for purpose,
  effective and sustainable workforce.
• There are a number of schemes and initiatives
  available to support businesses across Wales with
  this- it can be a maze!
• Some of the projects aims are to ensure these
  complement each other and ensure businesses know
  what is actually available depending on their
  individual circumstances.

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What do we need from you!

• In order to ensure WAG are aware of the skills
  and recruitment issues faces by the sector we
  need you to get involved.
• By participating in the needs analysis service
  we can inform WAG of the real skills needs that
  you have which will provide the information
  needed to assign funds for training now and in
  the future
• PLUS
• we can support you with looking at what you need
  to evolve as a business with funding, courses
  etc

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Today please

• Visit our stand to provide at least your
  business card/contact details so we can send
  someone to undertake the Needs Analysis with
  you-even do a postcard!
• Ideally, sit down with one of our staff to
  complete the Needs Analysis!

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Objective 1

• This project has some funding from the ESF
  Objective 1 funds which enables the project to
  support companies to address their needs for
  skills and recruitment longer term.
• This project is an opportunity for you to let
  people know what you need to develop your
  business longer term and remain sustainable.

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Project partner- Energy Institute

• Energy Institute project partner, 12,500 members
  in over 100 countries
• A Royal Charter membership organisation, its
  licensed by the Engineering Council (UK) to offer
  Chartered, Incorporated and Engineering
  Technician status to engineers.
• Has world class recognised Technical department
  that facilitate and coordinate UK input into the
  work of national and international non-EI
  committees in organisations such as BSI, ISO and
  CEN.

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Benefits

• Engineering Technicians and professional
  Engineers are essential for a healthy economy.
  Demand for EngTechs exceeds Engineers. However,
  IEng/ CEng represents a potential development
  route for EngTechs.
• Benefits go beyond basic job role requirements
• Professional recognition gives increased sense of
  achievement
• Can lead to Chartered Engineer status short cut
  to registration
• International recognition of qualifications-acts
  as a quality mark
• Client confidence (knowing you can assure
  consistent service)
• Employer assurance (demonstrated competence to
  contribute professionally to the business).
• Low cost grade of membership to the Energy
  Institute at EngTech level if required
• Ask to have your/company details forwarded at
  our stand!

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Upcoming future project actions

• Event in the new year for energy sector
  investments and highlighting opportunities for
  subcontracting plus skills needed to access these
  opportunities, research for NOS with SSCs,
  levels 3/4 CPD level modular energy
  qualification, another energy exchange event,
  international eco-rally skills, training and
  careers input and whatever you raise!
• Provide us with your details and we can send you
  an invite.

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Last event findings and what the Project has
done about them!

• Attracting young people into the sector was
  issue facing all of the energy industry.
• Mining sector couldnt access funding and did
  not have training or qualifications-like the
  plumbers-couldnt do any succession planning.

• Initiatives with Careers Wales association and
  Gowales happening next year.
• The Energy Project researched and raised this to
  secure funding for training- even helped to have
  it backdated!

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The project takes more action!

• Requirements for certain energy sector courses
  to be developed.
• Free resources on courses etc needed that can
  be accessed from anywhere!

• Convergence funding bids submitted to get
  courses developed, working with SSCs and
  colleges to update Apprenticeship frameworks.
• Free online sector specific tna tool developed
  which will be available long term to companies
  with information on funding and initiatives in
  Wales.

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What we going to do next?

• A lot of that depends on you so tell us what you
  need get a needs analysis done or at least
  provide your contact details.
• Come to our events, join the project network for
  newsletters, online access to needs info, spread
  the word, keep up to date with latest
  developments and contribute to saying what your
  industry needs for skills, training,
  qualifications and recruitment issues.
• Any questions?
• Alex Hartley, alex_at_appropriatetraining.com