Tens of Thousands of Offshore Jobs at Risk, UK Union Warns
might go bankrupt in the current oil price environment.Gov't funded sick payCash said: "Government and industry's ‘Vision 2035’ strategy now looks in serious jeopardy and we agree that immediate Government intervention, coordinated with trade unions, industry, and the Scottish Government, is essential in order to protect jobs and skills across the supply chain, as well as the investment needed to preserve the North Sea’s importance to the national energy mix.The Union is calling for the Oil and Gas Authority to take over ownership and operation of installations in the
The Underwater Centre Under New Ownership
Underwater Centre, welcomed the move, saying, “The center is of crucial importance to the North Sea industry as one of only two centers in Europe which provides closed bell diver training – a skill set which is vital to the North Sea sector.“We are delighted that the industry and Scottish Government have collaborated to ensure the future of the center. This genuinely positive collaboration will help to increase the value we can offer our customers and the entire industry in the future.“As a not-for-profit company, any surplus will be reinvested in improving quality and maintaining
O&G Market Study to Examine UKCS Skills
and supply chain firms from across UK businesses will take part in the data gathering exercise. The review will assess the current number of jobs directly supporting the sector in the UK, identify common roles and categorise these into broad job families. OPITO will work with the Scottish Government through SDS and with the UK Government through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to ensure alignment with government objectives. OPITO chief executive and Energy Jobs Taskforce member John McDonald said: “My discussions with industry stakeholders
O&G Seeks Clarity on New Skills Tax
The oil and gas industry, led by its skill organization OPITO, is calling for immediate clarity on how the money from the new tax, raised through the Apprenticeship Levy, will be redistributed. OPITO is concerned that no decision has been made by the Scottish government on this, despite the UK government confirming the amount the Scottish government will receive and clarifying how the money will be spent in England. John McDonald, UK managing director of OPITO, said, “The apprenticeship levy will be introduced on April 1, 2017. This is essentially a new skills tax to be
GBP1mln Grant to Create 100 Jobs at Ferguson Shipyard
of full time staff from 150 to 250 at Port Glasgow. The Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) funding will contribute to Ferguson Marine's redevelopment of its premises and investment in new state of the art equipment. Last month, Ferguson was awarded a £97m Scottish government contract to build two new ferries. The firm was saved from administration last year by Jim McColl's Clyde Blowers Capital. Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited (FMEL) had received a regional selective assistance grant from Scottish Enterprise
Plans to Restore UK Shipbuilding Welcomed by Union Groups
depending on the success of potential tenders within the commercial shipbuilding market. The potential number of jobs could be exceptional. We in Scotland certainly have the skills and experience and as stated the facilities at hand to go forward into an exciting future, and if supported by the Scottish Government can only go on an upward trend which will enhance the profile of commercial shipbuilding which was decimated through the 1960s and 1970s.”
