News / Jobs for all at gas plant
THE MAIN contractor responsible for building the £500 million Total gas plant next to the Sullom Voe oil terminal, in Shetland, has made a commitment to interview all unemployed islanders with the view to offering them suitable jobs.
Petrofac, one of the world’s largest engineering companies in the oil and gas industry, expects to start work on site in April next year.
The company said it was keen to provide opportunities for local people and businesses to benefit from the project, which is expected to be completed by 2014.
The commitment was made last week by Petrofac managing director Bill Dunnett when he met councillors and industry representatives in the isles.
Shetland has had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the UK for many years with on average between 150 to 250 people on the dole.
Petrofac said that at this stage it was impossible to say how many of the 500 workers needed during the height of the construction period in 2012 and 2013 would be recruited from the isles’ unemployed.
Mr Dunnett said: “We find ourselves in an unusual situation where we can specifically state and target the number of unemployed people in the locality of one our projects.
“We appreciate that not all those unemployed will either want or be suitable for the positions we will recruit for.
“The types of jobs will vary and while the majority will be construction-related positions. There will also be a variety of other opportunities available; such as catering positions within the camp accommodation.”
He added that the move was a two-way process. “We can provide the opportunities; local people and businesses must be willing and able to take them on.
“Interviewees must prove their skills, capabilities and desire to work on the project in the same way that all other applicants for Petrofac positions must do and of course, they must make their application for the roles advertised.”
Jobs will be advertised via recruitment agency Atlantic resourcing, on the company’s website at www.petrofac.com, and in newspapers and on websites.
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