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11 October 2024
The Birth of the Re-Entrant Programme
After the Oil and Gas downturn from 2014 to 2017, the offshore industry saw a rise in rig activation. Workers who had been laid off wanted to re-enter the industry, but they needed to refresh their training, knowledge, and skills. Mark McDonald, the Health and Safety Manager at Atlas Professionals, recognised this need and conceptualised a re-entrant programme to serve his clients.
Mark observed that many candidates with up to 30 years of experience faced employment challenges due to recent gaps in their CVs, resulting from the lack of work during the downturn. To address this, he proposed a re-entrant programme that included basic health and safety training, presentations on prevention, dropped objects, and line of fire, among other topics. This one-day course was offered free of charge.
Mark says: “We asked our clients, if we trained these professionals again, updated their certificates, and got them ready to go offshore again, would you take them on then? And they said, yes.
So that's what we did.”
Implementation and Success
The re-entrant programme was implemented through nine or ten courses held across the country, from Norwich in the South to Inverness in the North. Atlas Professionals funded these events.
What were the outcomes?
- Approximately 65% of attendees successfully returned offshore.
- Around 30%, decided against returning due to retraining costs.
- 5% chose to retire.
These sessions, often filled with individuals boasting a combined experience of over 350 years, provided a platform for valuable discussions and knowledge sharing.
“We would ask groups, ‘what would you do in this scenario?’ and they’d be so responsive, telling story after story. We were basically polishing and reactivating so much valuable experience.”
And the Greenhand Programme was conceived
The success of the re-entrant programme led to the idea of the Greenhand Programme. Initially, Mark’s role involved interviewing candidates, reviewing their CVs, and coordinating their training at various centres before forwarding their CVs to clients. However, this approach evolved into a more structured and comprehensive one-day course.
The Greenhand Programme now included an introduction to Atlas Professionals, its mission statement, values, clients, and upcoming work. Mark conducted extensive research on rig utilisation and contract durations to provide attendees with relevant industry insights. This approach aimed to better prepare candidates and ensure they made informed decisions about their career paths.
Client Collaboration and Expansion
Atlas Professionals advocated for all candidates to complete the Greenhand Programme and obtain their firefighting certifications, which typically cost around £4,000, to demonstrate their commitment and save clients the expense.
The first Greenhand Programme session was held in June 2018, with 13 attendees.
The programme's popularity surged after Alex Palla, an Atlas recruitment consultant, shared information about it on LinkedIn. Over a weekend, the post garnered 1,700 replies from interested individuals all over the world.
Mark says: “That’s when we knew we were onto something.”
Atlas Professionals selected around 40 candidates with strong backgrounds and transferable skills, such as ex-military personnel and those with mechanical or electrical expertise. Three courses were held within a week at the Aberdeen office.
First Success Story
During one of these initial sessions, Alex identified a candidate (Mike) with a mechanical background. After a brief conversation, Alex secured Mike an offshore greenhand position as a Motorman, starting just a few days later. Now, Mike is a Mechanic offshore, having worked his way up the ranks. This success story demonstrated the programme's effectiveness and boosted its credibility among potential candidates.
Where are we now?
Mark McDonald and Alex Palla’s innovative approach to addressing the offshore industry’s staffing challenges has led to the successful implementation of the Greenhand Programme. These initiatives have facilitated the re-entry of experienced workers and provided a structured pathway for new entrants beginning their offshore careers, ensuring the continued growth and sustainability of the offshore workforce.
Are you ready to take the leap into a dynamic offshore career and be part of the next wave of skilled professionals?
The Greenhand Programme is your gateway to success, whether you’re just starting out or looking to re-enter the industry. Join a community of passionate individuals shaping the future of offshore work! Reach out, connect with us on social media, and share your story. Your offshore career starts here—let’s make it happen!
