Apprentice looking for advice

[IsaacL]

Looking for some advice please,

Used to be an apprentice for an oil and gas fabrication firm. They put me through my 6G for duel shield and solid wire root. Loved it. Unfortunately due to covid I had to leave that place. I was lucky enough to finish my apprenticeship at a ship yard which I'm very thankful for, but, they're quality standards are pretty poor.
Looking to get off shore in either oil and gas or wind work. Or pipelines.
Going to get some training and sit a 6g mma test soon. However I know that just because I can pass a pipe test doesn't necessarily mean I'll be any good at all the varied jobs required.

I suppose what I'm asking is do new employers ease you in since it'd be a new welding process for me or do they just expect you to hit the ground running? Any advice would be greatly appreciated on how I can move up in the world.
Thanks!

 

[addjunkie]

Dont want to burst your bubble of enthusiasm, but both wind and O and G stuff tends to be pre fabricated, and the installed at site. New oil gas stuff is almost fully commissioned when it leave the yards. So this has vastly reduced the number of jobs in welding offshore. Sadly the streets are no longer paved with gold if you rock up with a welding mask and a Kromer.

 

[tom2207]

welcome to the forum ,,,

 

[addjunkie]

Looking for some advice please,

Used to be an apprentice for an oil and gas fabrication firm. They put me through my 6G for duel shield and solid wire root. Loved it. Unfortunately due to covid I had to leave that place. I was lucky enough to finish my apprenticeship at a ship yard which I'm very thankful for, but, they're quality standards are pretty poor.
Looking to get off shore in either oil and gas or wind work. Or pipelines.
Going to get some training and sit a 6g mma test soon. However I know that just because I can pass a pipe test doesn't necessarily mean I'll be any good at all the varied jobs required.

I suppose what I'm asking is do new employers ease you in since it'd be a new welding process for me or do they just expect you to hit the ground running? Any advice would be greatly appreciated on how I can move up in the world.
Thanks!

Might also be useful to state where you are, someone might know of other potential opportunities!

 

[IsaacL]

Dont want to burst your bubble of enthusiasm, but both wind and O and G stuff tends to be pre fabricated, and the installed at site. New oil gas stuff is almost fully commissioned when it leave the yards. So this has vastly reduced the number of jobs in welding offshore. Sadly the streets are no longer paved with gold if you rock up with a welding mask and a Kromer.

Ha! And there was me thinking I was gunna line my pockets with said gold. I had been approached asking about doing welding for a wind instalation project but didn't want to accept it and get out there and realise I don't have a clue what I'm doing!

 

[IsaacL]

Might also be useful to state where you are, someone might know of other potential opportunities!

I'm based in Glasgow and dundee but willing to travel!

 

[Rrobson]

Big firms like tei, doosans, fieldcore may take on, but absolutely yes you will be thrown in the deep end in this game.
It’s a difficult world to get in, especially offshore, you really need to know someone so I suggest you befriend someone already in the game.
But now is probably the best time to make a start, skilled hands are disappearing faster than firms know what to do about it, so you find any numpty that can hold a spanner the right way round get big money.

You’ll be almost certainly contracting, but there’s much more work overseas now that there was, so prepare for work abroad.
I’d recommend looking at mechanical fitters roles rather than welding, wages are finally catching up and folk are taking home £1500-£2000 a week before tax and the work is usually much more glamorous than welding from what I’ve seen over the years.
Although I’ve only moved up the ladder one rung over the last couple of years, my wage has doubled over a five year period because employers realise they need to look after their skilled staff. but remember that’s 70-80 hour weeks and two days off every fortnight so it’s not easy! Thankfully there’s usually quieter periods through the winter…

 

[Rrobson]

Also, fair play for getting into the industry, it’s not easy or for the feint hearted! And hard work seems to be something that most youngsters these days seem to avoid!!!

 

[IsaacL]

Big firms like tei, doosans, fieldcore may take on, but absolutely yes you will be thrown in the deep end in this game.
It’s a difficult world to get in, especially offshore, you really need to know someone so I suggest you befriend someone already in the game.
But now is probably the best time to make a start, skilled hands are disappearing faster than firms know what to do about it, so you find any numpty that can hold a spanner the right way round get big money.

You’ll be almost certainly contracting, but there’s much more work overseas now that there was, so prepare for work abroad.
I’d recommend looking at mechanical fitters roles rather than welding, wages are finally catching up and folk are taking home £1500-£2000 a week before tax and the work is usually much more glamorous than welding from what I’ve seen over the years.
Although I’ve only moved up the ladder one rung over the last couple of years, my wage has doubled over a five year period because employers realise they need to look after their skilled staff. but remember that’s 70-80 hour weeks and two days off every fortnight so it’s not easy! Thankfully there’s usually quieter periods through the winter…

Cheers pal, really appreciate it. I'm definitely happy to do contract and the hours and working abroad is something I wanted to do in this line of work, could you recommend a good way to find the abroad work? I'm pretty nifty with a spanner when I'm holding it the right way so might look into a mechanical fitter

 

[pressbrake1]

Big firms like tei, doosans, fieldcore may take on, but absolutely yes you will be thrown in the deep end in this game.
It’s a difficult world to get in, especially offshore, you really need to know someone so I suggest you befriend someone already in the game.
But now is probably the best time to make a start, skilled hands are disappearing faster than firms know what to do about it, so you find any numpty that can hold a spanner the right way round get big money.

You’ll be almost certainly contracting, but there’s much more work overseas now that there was, so prepare for work abroad.
I’d recommend looking at mechanical fitters roles rather than welding, wages are finally catching up and folk are taking home £1500-£2000 a week before tax and the work is usually much more glamorous than welding from what I’ve seen over the years.
Although I’ve only moved up the ladder one rung over the last couple of years, my wage has doubled over a five year period because employers realise they need to look after their skilled staff. but remember that’s 70-80 hour weeks and two days off every fortnight so it’s not easy! Thankfully there’s usually quieter periods through the winter…

Where do I sign up? I’m being serious btw

 

[winchman]

Welcome to the forum.
I would write to local firms and gain a few more years experience, get your self known Linked in etc.
By all means keep trying to drop in at the deep end as you never know.
I don't know your age but I would also look at another apprenticeship as some firms will find it much easier to take you on via this route.
May years ago I had some rulers printed with my brief details and phone number I sent one with every CV its surprising how many are still about.

 

[Rrobson]

Cheers pal, really appreciate it. I'm definitely happy to do contract and the hours and working abroad is something I wanted to do in this line of work, could you recommend a good way to find the abroad work? I'm pretty nifty with a spanner when I'm holding it the right way so might look into a mechanical fitter

Loads of agencies are taking on at the moment because there’s a massive shortage of skilled labour. I know Uk engineering is a large one, im not agency so I can’t comment on any really, although I’ve worked with many and I’ve a good idea what some are like…

Where do I sign up? I’m being serious btw

As long as you’ve got nvq3 and a ccnsg card (which is a two day course if I recall and a couple of hundred quid) most agencies will take on, although some have their own little extras like trade tests etc. but with the last batch of guys I had through one couldn’t read or write, the other couldn’t use a tape measure or even had grasp of basic mechanical principles (when asked to remove a dowel he said is it left handed…) and these were on £23 an hour basic!!
If you wanted some more info I’d be happy to discuss personally (note I’m not a recruiter, just been in the power industry enough years to know a few things)

 

[pressbrake1]

I don’t have a nvq but eitb,(apprenticeship hnc , mechanical engineering degree
Could I submit papers in application for a nvq ?

 

[Rrobson]

@pressbrake1 that should be plenty. Given your experience I’d say you’re more than qualified.
The most upsetting thing about modern day mechanical fitting is all the skills that used to be common place have disappeared. I’m very sure you can based off your posts on here but if someone is able to use a mic, scrape a bearing and stud bust a broken fastener up to 1”, your considered a super star. Honestly it’s that bad now…

 

[Rrobson]

Eitb is the older equivalent of nvq isn’t it? Anyway with those qualifications you could easily secure much higher hourly rates but the higher roles are more difficult to come by, and on the job experience is critical.

 

[pressbrake1]

Eitb was a certificate for serving a validated official apprenticeship and technical studies

 

[premmington]

I'm based in Glasgow and dundee but willing to travel!

Dundee and Glasgow miles away from each other - I inherited a property in Carnoustie - so I can tell you the mileage diference!

 

[IsaacL]

Dundee and Glasgow miles away from each other - I inherited a property in Carnoustie - so I can tell you the mileage diference!

Don't worry pal, I used to live in the Highlands! Live in Glasgow and commute through to dundee all the time (Mrs stays there and I used to live there) lucky I love driving

 

[addjunkie]

Don't worry pal, I used to live in the Highlands! Live in Glasgow and commute through to dundee all the time (Mrs stays there and I used to live there) lucky I love driving

Is there no opportunities for you at Rosyth for you, is it Doosan these days, used to-be Babcoks

 

[chrismac]

Is Dundee still a used harbour for the rigs coming for refurb/mods? I have a few mates working in Glasgow I think, does subsea have a yard there building pipe spools its been a while since I have spoken to any of the, good luck with your search.