The challenge to attract people with the right skills to the North Sea’s oil & gas industry remains a constant one.
A recent survey showed that while companies expect to increase staff, finding people with the necessary skills and experience is a major issue.
With higher education cuts looming, tuition fees increasing and growing pressure to cap immigration, this won’t be resolved any time soon.
Energy engineering and consultancy firm Pöyry is among those that believe more should be done to develop a strong skills base within Scotland. The company’s £140,000 scholarship programme for Scotland was launched in 2009 and has reached mid-term.
Ultimately, it is designed to provide a total of 35 students with support of between £500 and £6,000 during their studies. The last scholarship will be awarded in 2013 and continue until the last scholarship student graduates in 2016.
The Pöyry Engineering Scholarship is open to third-year students and is awarded to those studying at the University of Aberdeen, University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and University of Strathclyde. Students will receive £2,000 each year until they graduate.
The Fiona Fuller Business Scholarship is presented to students at Robert Gordon University. They are awarded £1,000 in their third year and £2,000 in their final year.
Full-time, second-year students at Banff and Buchan College in Fraserburgh will also be eligible to apply for £500 of support under the Fiona Fuller Business Scholarship. It was named after former Pöyry employee, Fiona Fuller, who passed away in 2008. She joined Pöyry as administration manager 1993, after graduating from Robert Gordon University, and went on to be promoted to the board of directors in 2003.
The latest batch of students to secure Pöyry Engineering Scholarships are: University of Aberdeen – Martin Robertson, MEng chemical engineering; University of Edinburgh – Alasdair Mcleod, MEng chemical engineering; Heriot-Watt University – Joe Satchwell, MEng chemical engineering; University of Strathclyde – Douglas Blake, MEng chemical engineering; The Fiona Fuller Business Scholarship – Robert Gordon University – Caitlin Bisset, BA (Hons) management, and Banff and Buchan College – Susan Wallace and Jan Cervenka, HND business.
Securing a scholarship traditionally has cachet; in these austere times they also help a student to survive. Here are a few reactions from the latest Poyry cohort.
Caitlin Bissett said: “For me, the real benefit of the Pöyry scholarship is having such a large company behind me. Especially thinking ahead about my fourth-year dissertation, it is encouraging me to study hard.
“A few of my friends have been awarded scholarships and I saw how much it benefited them, in particular with placements they had with their sponsors. That persuaded me to apply for the Pöyry support and I think the scholarship will really help me stand out from the crowd when it comes to graduating.”
Susan Wallace said: “I was so surprised to win the scholarship, I really didn’t expect to be successful and went to the interview for experience more than anything. It will be so valuable to me throughout my course and will also be a great thing to have on my CV.
“It is fantastic to have secured a scholarship while at college and especially one with such a widely recognised company. It’s great that Pöyry runs this scheme and it’s a good thing for Banff and Buchan College to be part of. Now I’m looking to the future and hope to continue my studies by going to university next year.”
Alasdair Mcleod said: “It is a huge privilege to be awarded the Pöyry scholarship and will be vitally helpful for my studies. It will also be great to establish a link with Pöyry. With potential for placements, it will be really beneficial to be able to get inside knowledge and experience at the kind of company I one day want to work for.
“The scholarship also provides great motivation. Having this backing makes me even more determined to push myself and do the very best I can at university, because it is not just me who has invested in my education.”
Joe Satchwell said: “I am so grateful for the chance to get the Pöyry scholarship. The main advantage is that it allows me to focus entirely on my studies without having so much pressure to balance university with part-time working.
“Engineering is something I have always had an interest in and I really want a career in this industry. Being able to gain work experience at Pöyry will help my future prospects. Hopefully I may even have the chance to get a job at Pöyry when I graduate.”