Scottish Conservatives have called for a new approach towards the future oil and gas job opportunities being highlighted to young people and have called for Councils across Scotland to look to promote more oil and gas work experience opportunities to young people in schools and colleges.
Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East said:
“There is a real need to see articulation between schools and colleges and for young people to know the great career opportunities which exist.
“The oil and gas sector has a great story to tell not least the employment opportunities it has provided to many people across the North East.
“Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Councils are to be congratulated for the work they are already undertaking alongside the industry to promote the oil and gas sector job opportunities to young people and North East colleges and Universities have also developed a very strong relationship to help bring young people into the oil and gas industry.
“This model has helped to a great extent to help train and recruit many young people living in the North East into the sector however it is clear that demand from the industry is outstripping the current supply of trained individuals.
“It is clear that in the coming years and decades thousands of job opportunities will be made available and the supply of skilled workers to the sector must be addressed.
“I would also like to see more opportunities made available for work experience and school visits to oil and gas companies and for Scotland’s 32 local Councils to look to come on trips to Aberdeen and the North East to show young people the industry and what it has to offer.
“There are still massive opportunities in the North Sea and the UK Conservative Government is determined to work closely with the industry and all interested parties to maximise this and do what we can to promote further investment and exploration.”