Expanding certifications & expanding opportunities to support family of four

Despite being fully certified in oil and gas safety training, it proved difficult to secure a new position with a lack of opportunities in the North-east but he is confident that completing the GWO training with RelyOn Nutec will help him to transition from oil and gas to renewables as the industry grows.

Having moved to Aberdeen from Poland sixteen years ago it was the first time he had been out of work and with a partner and four children to support it was crucial that he secured a regular income.

The timing of the ETZ Ltd funded training with RelyOn Nutec was ideal for Lukasz, who signed up for the GWO certification with a desire to learn more about the renewables industry and upskill.  He recognised that extending his certification would offer more job opportunities as he has a strong interest in renewables and was eager to learn more.

After completing the course, Lucasz did manage to secure a new role with Wood as deck crew on the Gannet platform and although this is still in the oil and gas sector he has his eye firmly on moving into renewables when the opportunity arises.

He said: “I was very grateful to get a free place on the funded GWO course at RelyOn Nutec and I thoroughly enjoyed the course.  It was a good mix of classroom and practical teaching and the instructors were very interesting, and we all learned a lot from them.

“I am really interested in renewables so I have no doubt that the course will help me to transition across from oil and gas when the time comes.  I really enjoy continuing to learn so it was brilliant to have the chance to certify in renewables, which only adds to my employability chances.”

Hundreds of north-east people took advantage of the ETZ Ltd fully funded places delivered by RelyOn Nutec aimed at supporting workers to re-enter the oil and gas industry or transition into renewables.  The majority of free training delivered was the GWO basic safety and technical training, which usually costs in the region of £2000 to complete, which demonstrated a real appetite in the region towards gaining work in the renewables sector.

Lucasz, who was previously a German teacher in Poland whilst helping to run his father’s shoe factory, worked in a number of roles in Aberdeen when he arrived, including a hotel kitchen porter, a bakery sales assistant, a painter, and a cleaner.  He secured his first industry role as a banksman slinger and crane driver working initially at Aberdeen Harbour.

He is confident the GWO course has given him new skills and experience to help him work better, with the electrical and mechanical knowledge set to be useful wherever his career takes him.  Now he has gained this new qualification and certification, he is excited about gaining experience in the renewables industry in the future.