Skills shortages and too few people in an industry growing faster than predicted calls for different thinking and action.

Developing multi-skilled individuals and building flexible teams to sustain the rapidly expanding offshore wind industry is key, Chris Emmins says.

“Instilling loyalty and stability in roles previously driven by short-term individual project-based views has driven Offshore NRG to develop a longer-term solution to address the shortage of people that hold the competence of Senior Authorised Personnel (SAPs).”

Working alongside ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia ONE windfarm team on its service contract, Offshore NRG is upskilling its Balance of Plant technicians with high voltage experience and expertise to become SAPs.

The result is operational flexibility with an agile, cost-effective, and competent operation team, which expands capability on the wind farm, Chris said.

“Investing in people like this is the only way we can meet the industry requirements for growth. Delivering on the future projects with the current resources is a risk. We must train and develop new people in our team.

“For our clients, training and promoting within those personnel with a positive can-do attitude and offshore mentality to get the job done safely and responsibly, is the way forward.

“With our holistic high voltage training model, which can be utilised with our clients, we are able to develop those highly skilled individuals to do the work.”

Delivering green energy generated offshore into the National Grid safely and efficiently depends on highly skilled electrical engineers.

However, experienced and well mentored engineers / SAPs are in short supply.

Working closely with Steve Hodger, East Anglia ONE’s operations and maintenance manager, Chris identified that boosting offshore wind technicians’ skillsets with voltage expertise would make Steve’s team more responsive and resilient.

“Offshore NRG already has a training hub and associated processes ideally suited to bring technicians up to speed with these new skills.

“We have worked hard to develop a collaborative relationship with the team at East Anglia ONE. Our Performance Assessment Training Hub (PATH) way of training and developing individuals now creates senior electrical engineers, Senior Authorised Persons (SAPs).”

The first success story was Offshore NRG’s Gavin Chapman, then an experienced offshore wind technician on a short-term contract on East Anglia ONE.

“We identified Gavin’s potential. His drive, attitude and knowledge made him ideal for selection for training to be an Authorised Person (AP). He has now successfully completed the training process and now works as a full-time member of the Offshore NRG team.

“Spurred on by this success, Gavin is continuing his training and working towards his full Senior Authorised Person (SAP) authorisation.

“We invested in training Gavin using our processes, honing his electrical and safety rules knowledge to set him up to become authorised by ScottishPower Renewables’ authorisation programme.

“As a result, East Anglia ONE has another qualified person and another asset, who works for us and also works for Steve Hodger’s team as an AP when needed. It means Steve didn’t have to go out to the market for an AP.”

Offshore NRG is using its proven process to upskill more East Anglia ONE SAPs to the next voltage levels and training and mentoring more technicians to bring them to AP and SAP status.

“This not only delivers greater flexibility for the team, but it is a cost-effective solution for a multi-skilled workforce and develops individuals to reach their full potential in the industry.

“If you are investing in training someone then not only do you benefit from that skill but it also helps to develop commitment, loyalty and engagement from the person.

“Traditionally, it would be two people but now we have one person able to do that role effectively. If someone isn’t able to work, it gives the team and the project the flexibility and ability for a person to get on to the platform and cover rather than waiting to find someone else through an agency to cover sickness.”

Offshore NRG now seeks to emulate its model.

“Training for the future is the foundation of our business. With our success in background, we successfully bring in revenue for our business and move on together with both the client and us getting the benefit. We are working together doing the right thing for the future of our industry.

“We are more than a service provider for ScottishPower Renewables. It is all about collaboration and partnership. Working with Steve and the team, we identified an opportunity and agreed the way forward and are now supporting a more skilled workforce.”

Offshore NRG, which carries out its high voltage for OFTO & Gen on East Anglia ONE as part of its partnership with contractor RMI, has added the control room to its services since starting work on the wind farm in 2018.

Its work ensures electricity generated by its 102 turbines enters the National Grid at Bramford, as well as ensuring everything runs smoothly on the offshore substation.

“With the support of RMI sharing our vision, we have been able to achieve this for SPR.”

Steve Hodger said high voltage expertise was a much sought-after specialism. “Evolving this solution with Offshore NRG has delivered versatility and flexibility for the team. To achieve this outcome in partnership with one of our suppliers is the best illustration of how relationships with specialist companies can work when we are all working together.”