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Oil & Gas support event to be held at Pittodrie

Further to the second meeting of the Energy Jobs Taskforce it has been announced that a support event for workers in the Oil and Gas sector is to be held at Pittodrie next month.

Energy Jobs Taskforce members were updated on the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) event that will take place on 25 March at Aberdeen Football Club, Pittodrie, and will be open to anyone who has concerns about redundancy within the oil and gas sector. The PACE team has engaged with over 40 oil and gas companies to date to ensure that any employee who has concerns about redundancy has access to PACE services.

Employers including Sonomatic and First Bus will join PACE partners such as Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Department for Work and Pensions, and Citizens Advice Scotland.

The Taskforce, chaired by Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Lena Wilson, focus on jobs across the entire industry, but has an initial emphasis on the oil and gas sector. Membership includes industry bodies and commercial interests, as well as cross-government representation.

Speaking after the latest meeting of the Taskforce, Damien Yeates, Chief Executive of SDS and PACE lead on the Taskforce, said:

“SDS is working with PACE partners and recruitment specialists to bring PACE to life through the event in Aberdeen. It is an opportunity for people to visit one place and receive practical advice as well as hear about job opportunities.

“I would encourage workers facing redundancy from the oil and gas sector to make the most of the event. Speak to as many recruitment specialists as possible and take this opportunity to seek advice from all different PACE partners.”

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“There is a real risk that the current oil price could lead to the premature decommissioning of assets and the loss of highly skilled workers – which is why the UK Government urgently needs to deliver tax relief to the industry to protect jobs and investment.

“But we also need to provide support and information to those who may be facing uncertainty at the moment over their future job prospects.

“The event at Pittodrie is a tangible example of the support the Oil and Gas taskforce is providing for workers in the sector and I urge all workers who have recently been made redundant, or who are concerned about redundancy, to attend and ensure they access the support available.”

Event details:

The PACE event will take place from 9.30am-3pm in the Pittodrie stadium’s Aberdeen Asset Management Suite.

Visitors will have the opportunity to visit exhibitors in five distinct zones covering money, jobs and job searching, future learning, health and wellbeing, and setting up a business.

Anyone unable to attend the Aberdeen event can drop in to SDS centres for access to information from the event including job opportunities. For a list of SDS centres please visit:http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/contact-us/centre-search/

Notes To Editors

SDS lead on PACE activity – the Scottish Government’s initiative for responding to redundancy situations – and has organised the upcoming event together with partners.

Confirmed members of the Taskforce include senior representatives from:

  • Scottish Enterprise (also representing Scottish Development International and Highlands and Islands Enterprise)
  • Scottish Government
  • Skills Development Scotland (also representing PACE)
  • Scottish Funding Council
  • Aberdeen City Council
  • Aberdeenshire Council
  • Schlumberger
  • STUC
  • Oil and Gas UK
  • BP
  • Taqa
  • Aker
  • Wood Group
  • AMEC
  • Petrofac
  • ACE Winches
  • Global Energy
  • Spex Offshore
  • Scottish Engineering
  • Oil & Gas Authority
  • DECC
  • Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce
  • OPITO

The Taskforce will be chaired by Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Lena Wilson and will report to the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, which will continue to be co-chaired by the First Minister and Professor Jim McDonald. Job Centre Plus and the Department of Work and Pensions are represented on the taskforce via PACE and SDS.

The Scottish Government continues to support the oil and gas industry. In 2013/14, funding from Scottish Enterprise to the oil and gas sector was £15.1million. The Scottish Government has continued to ring-fence 500 Modern Apprenticeships for the energy sector in each year of the current parliament.

 

 

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

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