Polar Pumps Ltd training facility continues to expand

Polar Pumps is pleased to announce that it is expanding its portfolio of courses to include those previously delivered by Techtrain, one of these courses being the MoD Resettlement Course, which will still be delivered by Tony Haynes, who has joined us from Techtrain, is ex-Navy himself and understands the difficulties faced by personnel leaving the Forces.

The qualifications gained at the end of our resettlement course are nationally accredited by City & Guilds and CITB ConstructionSkills. We only train in small groups – normally up to eight candidates per course, and our centre is purpose-built, dedicated to training in refrigeration, air-conditioning and electrics.

Most days are taken up by 60% practical assignments and 40% theory sessions. Candidates will be issued with all study notes and practical assignment folders during their course.

We have contacts with many of the large refrigeration companies throughout the country, so we are often in a position to provide leads for jobs, although we cannot make any promises.

There are always opportunities for employment within the industry, because at present there are a lot of refrigeration and air conditioning engineers retiring, and very few apprentices starting at the bottom to replace them. This is creating a major shortage of engineers. That’s where you come in: by using your current engineering skills and adapting them to refrigeration and air conditioning, you can offer yourself to the industry for employment. Many companies are willing to take on people like you and train you to their requirements, not as an experienced engineer but as an improver. You will have all the necessary qualifications, but will need to gain some experience.

Our purpose-built training centre is located just south of Doncaster, approximately two miles from junction 34 of the A1. The full address is: Polar Pumps Ltd, Brunel Close, Brunel Industrial Estate, Blyth Road, Harworth, Doncaster DN11 8QA.

If you have any questions, or would like some advice or to request a brochure please contact our training coordinator Debbie on 01302 751253, email debbie@polarpumps.com, or visit our website at www.polarpumps.com.

See the advertisement on page 50

Resettlement Training Lands Flight Sergeant Dream Job

Flying around the underwater wreckage of helicopters, boats and pipelines, during a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) training exercise, led to Flt Sgt Price’s new, dream job as an ROV Pilot/Technician in Aberdeen.

Steve Price, due to exit the RAF on 31 May, after completing 1 week short of 31yrs of service, is an Aircraft Engineering Technician by trade – employed at RAF Lossiemouth until June 2009. However, he is currently employed "Out of Trade" as the Mountain Rescue Team Leader with the Mountain Rescue Service - part of the RAF Search and Rescue Force, based at RAF Valley, Holyhead, Anglesey. He is currently on resettlement leave at home in Burghead, Elgin, Morayshire, before taking up his new job.

As part of his resettlement process, Steve recently underwent 2 weeks training with Maritime Training & Competence Solutions (MTCS), which is based in Windermere, Cumbria.

MTCS Ltd is a fully accredited assessment and training centre providing a spectrum of operational, technical and supervisory training to the offshore industry. The majority of their courses focus on ROV’s as used in the oil & gas, nuclear and renewables industry.

Commenting on his training,Price says: “I thoroughly enjoyed my ROV course and found their resettlement coordinator, Michelle Livesey and the rest of the team at MTCS to be very friendly, helpful and professional; the standard of training was excellent and was pitched at the right level.

“Being completely new to the offshore industry, I found the overview and background information very useful. The majority of the technical training took place in the classroom, including some of the practical sessions such as fiber optic terminations and faultfinding.”

MTCS is proud to boast its own forces sweetheart, with Re-settlement Coordinator, Michelle Livesey. She is the friendly voice at the end of the phone line and she also looks after all the forces resettlement trainees, whilst they’re doing their training at MTCS. Michelle says: “ I know what a big step it is to be leaving a long-term career in the forces and to start training in something, which is quite often completely new, so I like to make candidates like Steve feel welcome and re-assured, when they come to our training facility in Cumbria.”

Price added: “There’s a state-of-the-art ROV Simulator with a range of deepwater construction activitiesto gain hands-on experience, with a further practical session with an ROV operation at Capernwray - a local Cumbrian quarry. Deploying, flying and recovering the ROV at the Capernwray dive quarry was one of the most enjoyable parts of the course. It was here we learned to operate the ROV in close proximity to divers and fly around underwater wreckage, which included helicopters, boats and pipelines.

“I believe my training with MTCS gave me a distinct advantage as MTCS provided me with the skills and knowledge that my new employer, Integrated Subsea Services (ISS) were looking for - the ISS competency scheme appears to be based around the MTCS scheme. During the interview, ISS were keen to establish where I had received my ROV training and how I financed it. MTCS gave me the knowledge and understanding to talk confidently about ROV and offshore related subjects, which was especially useful at interview - and I believe led to an employment offer following the interview.”

Stephen is due to start work at Aberdeen-based, Integrated Subsea Services (ISS) on 16 March, as a trainee ROV Pilot/Technician.

MTCS Ltd will be exhibiting at the Oceanology International Show, 13-15 March. As MTCS is a recognised and accredited certifying body for Personnel Competence within the ROV Industry, they will be talking to visitors to their stand (number S500), about thesafety issues surrounding the offshore industry. The Managing Director for MTCS, Richard Warburton, will also be delivering a speech on 15 March, 12.30pm, on the life of a Marine Professional, during the OIS Careers Day.

For further information and prices on ROV training, plus other course opportunities, please contact Richard Warburton, MTCS, Tel: 015394 48233 or email enquiries@mtcs.info. www.mtcs.info

RAF engineer named as Churchill Medal winner

An RAF engineer, whose work has resulted in a reduction of casualties from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan, has won a prestigious engineering award.

Flight Lieutenant David Ramsey from RAF Leeming in Northallerton was named as the winner of the Churchill Medal, which is supported by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). He has been rewarded for his outstanding engineering professionalism in the disciplines of requirement analysis, system engineering and project management. His work has provided an innovative information management solution to support Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) operations in Afghanistan.
His solution to the problem of transferring information between key personnel led to a significant increase in the number of IED makers being detained. This has reduced the threat to Coalition Forces and the Afghan population.

Mark Organ, IET Head of Membership, says: ‘I would like to personally congratulate Flight Lieutenant Ramsey on his achievement and look forward to seeing him officially presented with the award.’

First presented in 1952, previous recipients of the Churchill Medal include Sir Frank Whittle, who is credited with inventing the turbo-jet engine, and Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, the British aviation pioneer.

The Churchill Medal reflects achievement in engineering and technical advancement in support of military operations for those serving in the British Armed Forces.

For more information on the IET, visit www.theiet.org.

Future careers in the engineering sector: the Talent Retention Solution (TRS) scheme

A new initiative has been launched to retain highly skilled workers across the UK’s advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors.

On 24 October 2011, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, The Rt Hon Andrew Robathan MP, met with Alan Cook, Chairman of Atkins Global and Semta, to discuss the Talent Retention Solution (TRS) scheme, which links Service and civilian personnel leaving the Ministry of Defence with companies in industry that are looking to fill engineering-related vacancies.

TRS was formed in December 2010 after Alan Cook was asked by the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, to form the business-led Skills & Job Retention Group (S&JRG) to investigate measures to retain key technical and engineering skills in the economy that might be lost as a consequence of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. The MoD was a founding member of the group, together with representatives from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Siemens, EDF, Nissan, Kembrey Wiring, ADS, CBI and BIS. The group identified the potential for suitably qualified Service and civilian personnel leaving defence to fill vacancies in the engineering sector.

Using a grant from BIS, and in partnership with Winchester Consulting, the group developed TRS. TRS allows individuals to register their skills and qualifications, and search for engineering vacancies in industry. It also allows employers to upload vacancies and search the database for people with the specific skills or qualifications they require. The TRS facilitates the initial contact between the two, after which normal recruitment processes commence.

Service leavers who are eligible for resettlement provision through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) are able to register with the TRS via a link on the CTP website at www.ctp.org.uk. You can find the link under the ‘Find a Job’ tab, and there also links from the CTP online job-finding service, RightJob. Additionally, all eligible civilian personnel leaving the MoD via the Voluntary Early Release Scheme are able to register on the TRS and will be provided with a link to the site with their termination letter.

TRS will be government-funded for the first year and by industry thereafter. It is free to join for small to medium-sized companies and there are no subscription costs for the individual. TRS is targeting 1,000 companies by the end of the 2011 to put their vacancies on the system.

The TRS scheme has been commended for those leaving defence who are being afforded the opportunity to move into jobs where their engineering expertise could be utilised, which will also help the wider UK economy. The Minister thought it important that schemes such as this were led by industry rather than government, since industry is best placed to know what is good for it. The trades unions have been engaged in the work surrounding MoD’s participation in TRS and are supportive.

Service personnel and MoD civilians who require full information on TRS and how to register, are encouraged to read 2011DIN01-225 Talent Retention System (TRS), released November 2011 and available on the Defence Intranet. Details are also available on the CTP website at www.ctp.org.uk.

The challenges facing HM Forces personnel seeking post-Service redeployment

It is an unfortunate fact that a large proportion of civilian employers fail to recognise that many of the skills and attributes possessed by ex-HM Forces personnel are extremely valuable and transferable. This has always been a challenge facing ex-Services personnel, but in the face of the worst recession in living memory it has become even more acute.

So how should you go about maximising your chances of securing civilian employment?

It is clear that, in the present jobs climate, the competition is intense and, in general, there are more applicants than there are jobs – especially in the traditional redeployment career paths in general management, personnel management, security, HM Constabulary, etc. However, this is not the case in all sectors – there are still areas where there are severe skills shortages, as listed in the table below.

Software development

Testing

Help desk support

Managed services

Telecoms

Mobile phones

Offshore and onshore oil and gas

Civil and structural construction

Infrastructure projects

Offshore and onshore oil and gas

Petrochemicals

Electrical and electronics

Telecoms manufacturing

Hardware manufacturing

Mechanical

Vehicle maintenance

Production plant maintenance

Offshore and onshore oil and gas construction and

commissioning

Security

Marine security

Specialist security companies

Individual personal protection

Bomb disposal Unexploded ordnance clearance

Sports and leisure

Personal trainers

Fitness instructors

Whichever industries or sectors you decide to target, the key issue is to ensure that potential employers understand that your training and skills sets are transferable assets. It is also important to realise that civilian employers will be unfamiliar with HM Forces jargon and its use must be avoided. There are many aspects of your training and experience in the Forces that you take for granted but are important to highlight to prospective employers. For example:

levels of personal fitness attained
hardships endured
staying cool under fire
man management
self-discipline
leadership abilities
multi-tasking ability
teamwork.

It is also vital to understand the importance of a good CV and the necessity of a strategic approach to marketing yourself. You have to stand out from the crowd in order to get interviewed and secure a job.

This is where PrimeCandidate can help you. It offers a highly professional, bespoke online CV writing and posting service. Your CV is the most powerful sales and marketing tool at your disposal when searching for a new job, and should therefore be taken very seriously. PrimeCandidate will give your CV the edge it needs to get noticed. It comprises ex-recruitment and industry professionals with hiring manager status, and is in the best possible position to produce professional CVs and recommend CV posting locations. Social networking sites are fast becoming the resourcing tool of choice for many employers around the world. We can set you up on professional/social networking sites by creating a ‘fit for purpose’ profile page, attach your CV, generate connections and make suggestions for suitable groups to join. In short, we prime today’s job hunters into Prime Candidates for interview and selection!

You can order most of our services online at www.primecandidateuk.com or to speak to us in person about your requirements please call on +44 01423 563750.

See the advertisement on page 74.

Increase in sales at Jaguar Land Rover – creates 1000 jobs

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest design, engineering and manufacturing employer and we are embarking on our most ambitious growth plan in recent history. And that means new manufacturing jobs. Lots of them.

Manufacturing is where our inspiration comes to life. We are renowned for harnessing cutting-edge technology and innovative lean processes to create vehicles that get pulses racing worldwide.

The UK Manufacturing team has helped expand the business to over 170 countries. With a multi-billion pound investment in product creation due over the next five years, and a range of groundbreaking new models, vehicle-lines and engines already in the pipeline, we are ready to push further into key markets.
That might be where you come in. We have recently announced plans to recruit more than 1,000 members of staff at our advanced manufacturing plant in Solihull. We are seeking dynamic people – precise and passionate communicators who can motivate all those around them.

There are a wide range of roles available including Production Operatives, Maintenance Electricians, Mechanical Maintenance Fitters, Multi-skilled (Electrical/Mechanical) Trades, and Toolmakers. There are also opportunities within Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Powertrain Manufacturing and Production Operations, including managerial posts. Relocation support is available in certain circumstances.

Des Thurlby, HR Director, says "these jobs are well paid with great benefits. We provide high quality training and development for all our employees."
To find out if there’s a job for you, visit www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com

See the advertisement on page 62.

ELCAS points help to boost a career in Renewable Technologies

After serving 12 years in the Royal Marines Mark Packham decided it was time to change career so he could spend more time with his family. To support his new life, three years ago, he started his own business which supplies home services to domestic customers. To ensure his business was able to meet the market’s increasingly demand for renewable energy technologies he enrolled on a Renewable Energy MSc at CATCentre for Alternative Technology.

As more and more institutions gear up to provide training in renewable energy and sustainable technologies it can be very difficult to know which one to chose and where enhanced learning credits can be used to ease the cost.

Mark shared with us why he chose the course at CAT; ‘The quality of the instruction is exceptional and CAT offers an ideal environment for learning.

The institutions credibility is underpinned by the tutors, many of which are professionals working in the industry. Food and accommodation are included as part of the course fee I was able to use my enhanced learning credits to reduce the cost.

The time I have spent on the Renewable Energy MSc has been full of positive experiences. I would recommend it to anyone that has a serious interest in sustainability and engineering and is looking to start a new career in a dynamic and challenging area.’

CAT was established in 1973 and can boast more than 35 year’s practical and unbiased experience in the field, which is fed directly into their programmes. Their courses offer theoretical and practical, hands-on training in renewable energy, sustainable technologies and the environment in which they can be built.

For further information on what CAT can offer please visit their website: http://www.cat.org.uk/

Get on course for a new career with Providence Training

Providence Training is a specialist training provider that can offer its customers not only a wide range of courses but also a wealth of experience and expertise. Our training centre is located in the beautiful county of Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, and within easy reach of many military bases.

Our unique offering to learners comes in the form of small informal classes, vocationally experienced instructors and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. This manifests itself in high levels of learner success – for example, our NEBOSH General Certificate pass rate is 84%, which is roughly 20% higher than the national average.

Providence Training, through its pipefitting and welding training departments, also has links with the engineering construction industry, which is responsible for the building and maintenance of many key industrial plants, such as refineries and power stations: the ‘energy sector’. Predictions are that there will be a shortfall in the number of skilled workers available within the country to meet the planned construction projects designed to reduce national CO2 emissions (eight nuclear power stations and 44,000 wind generators). It is evident that significant employment opportunities will emerge imminently in this sector. Consequently the courses offered by Providence Training are structured to enhance future employment prospects for participants. Under the ELC scheme, we offer Welder Training & Coding, the NEBOSH General Certificate in Safety & Health, and NVQ 3 and 4 awards in Occupational Safety & Health under City & Guilds.

Other than the level 3 and above courses, Providence Training offers a wide range of other training courses, including various passport schemes – all of which can be booked outside of the ELC scheme. Please visit www.providence trainingltd.com for more information.
Our prices are very competitive and there are no hidden extras. For instance, the NEBOSH price of £850 + VAT includes not only lunch but also the NEBOSH textbook and delegate registration.

Other onsite facilities include extensive training workshops, four fully equipped classrooms, disabled access, canteen facilities serving hot and cold food, and an extensive grassed area for relaxation between sessions.

For further information please call 01646 600062.

See the advertisement on page 39.

Published in November 2010

Return to Work Initiative benefits injured TA soldier

A Territorial Army soldier, seriously injured in Afghanistan and unable to return to his former employment, has taken on a new challenge working with the national arms and armoury collection. Lance Corporal David Sterling Brown, 39, from Dilwyn, Herefordshire, was left with serious leg injuries and a broken back when a roof was blown off a building by a low-flying helicopter in Garmsir last year. The roof landed on him, causing devastating injuries and he was airlifted to Camp Bastion hospital with three broken bones in his lower spine.

Mid-way through his recovery back in the UK, he realised that he might not be able to return to his former employment as a specialist armourer, reproducing medieval armour pieces for private collections and museums around the world. However, at this point, an Army welfare team began working to get Lance Corporal Brown into the Return to Work Initiative: a programme run by the MOD to help find meaningful employment for Service personnel in a period of recovery following injury or illness. And, this April, Lance Corporal Brown benefited from the scheme when he arrived for his first day of a very suitable placement at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, helping museum staff to audit the national collection, which includes items that he himself made prior to his deployment!

Published in August 2010

Engineering - Mechanical - Despatches