Global training firm invests to diversify into offshore wind safety

Following a £60,000 refurbishment at our centres at Foinavon Close and Wellheads Road, we've received accreditation to deliver GWO (Global Wind Organisation) training in Aberdeen. This leads the way to new courses being launched in January 2020 to support the growing wind industry in the region.

The accreditation will allow us to transfer our offshore knowledge to deliver GWO basic and refresher training, enhanced first aid, and slinger signal courses. These courses have already been delivered by our Teesside training centre for the past five years.

It follows a demand from the wind industry for access to more training as developments are expected to increase in the next decade.  It is estimated that up to 6,400 additional jobs will be required in Scotland’s offshore wind industry by 2032 with more than 1000 wind turbines being installed in coastal waters north of the border.

The Aberdeen investment includes an extension to the platform in the pool area to mock-up realistic safety transfers from a vessel to a turbine, an updated fast rescue boat, new ancillary equipment for working at height and rescue, and extending the existing working at height platform at Wellheads.

James Dixon, product development manager, RelyOn Nutec UK, said: “There are major offshore wind developments underway in the UK, in the north-east of Scotland and the north-east of England, so both of our UK centres are very well positioned to fully support the industry, with required accreditation as it grows around our shores.

“There are a couple of large projects forthcoming in the Moray Firth, Firth of Forth and north of Edinburgh, so achieving GWO accreditation for our Aberdeen centre was essential to support our client requirements.  Our team is highly experienced, and their skills are transferable as the wind industry works towards achieving the same safe working practices that we have seen instilled in the oil and gas industry for decades.”

The GWO courses are available from mid-January will provide entry level training for people looking to retrain for wind industry opportunities and advanced training for those already working in the industry and looking to enhance their skill base.