PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: 17 June 2009
HARRIS PYE TRAINEE WELDER SCHEME GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
The fifth intake of their innovative Trainee Welder Scheme, which has seen welding graduates join the Group’s workforce at home and overseas, will be welcomed by the Harris Pye Group in July. This scheme operates in addition to the Apprenticeship schemes currently undertaken throughout the Group.
The Harris Pye Group is a rapidly expanding global player with active involvement in many key marine and industrial sectors. The Group has an enviable reputation as one of the world’s leading specialists in repair of marine and industrial boilers, including all associated steam systems. It has recently undergone substantial planned growth, and expanded by means of internal expansion and acquisition, into areas complimentary to its core business. Over the past 10 years, the Group has also successfully developed its service to the offshore oil industry to include in situ repair, upgrade and conversion of rigs, semi-submersibles, trading tankers, FSU, FSO, FPSO and FSRU units.
“We introduced the Trainee Welder Scheme in June 2007 in an attempt to address the lack of competently trained local welders with marine and offshore experience,” explains Chris David, Technical Director of the Harris Pye Group. “Our workshops at our Group Headquarters in Barry were specially adapted to incorporate eight welding booths to enable training to take place.
“Our trainees, of various ages with wide ranging skill sets and experiences, are selected to undertake the intensive training programme within our Skills Centre. Each Trainee Welder Scheme operates for 26 weeks and is managed by an experienced welding engineering in conjunction with a variety of marine and mechanical engineers and welding technicians.”
The fact that the Scheme employs a welding engineer specifically to instruct the trainees has an added bonus, as it enables existing employees to be brought into the Skill Centre for re-training, learning new welding practices and for attaining new codings
Aims of the trainee programme
The Trainee Welder Scheme instructs the trainees in the four main aspects of welding – MIG, Flux Core / Solid Wire, Stick and TIG - used within Harris Pye’s areas of expertise and ultimately attaining accredited codings in each individual aspect. The success of the programme is measured by the number of codings achieved by the trainees. Once they successfully achieve these, they are sent on projects that are undertaken by the Harris Pye Group. These could be based locally, at the Barry workshop, on ships either at sea or in dry dock or on offshore structures. The Harris Pye Group works on a global basis and currently has on-going projects in the UK, France, Spain, Scandinavia, West Africa, Singapore, Brazil, Australia and the USA.
During the first twelve months following their training programme, the successful graduates are mentored by experienced welding artisans and supervisors when attending any project. This allows them to gain further valuable on-the-job training, enabling them to put their newly learned skills into practice and gain practical experience. With ongoing training and mentoring there will be opportunities for these men to progress through the company.
“We are extremely proud of all our trainees,” says Mark Prendergast, Group Managing Director, Harris Pye. “Two have graduated early from our January 2009 intake and are currently working on projects and five will graduate at the end of June. Other graduates are working in the Harris Pye Outfitting Division in Barry; in our headquarters workshop; two are going to Singapore to work there for the next two years; and others are used regularly on jobs around the globe.
“A quality skilled workforce is imperative for the continued growth and success of the Group,” he adds. “Internal training and promotion from within is paramount in achieving our aims, and we anticipate that our graduates will form part of the future leadership infrastructure, moving into roles such as leading hands, team leaders, foremen, supervisors and junior repair managers.”
Training available to clients too
Harris Pye is happy to offer a pressure welding appreciation course to any of their client’s trainees. “This would take the form of a two-week intensive programme allowing them to understand the techniques used and requirements needed to produce high pressure welds in all aspects of boiler repair,” explains Mark Prendergast. “This course will be of great benefit to any sea-going engineering trainee.”
Further information on all aspects of the Trainee Welder Scheme and the two-week pressure welding appreciation course is available from Harris Pye Group, David Davies Road, No. 2 Barry Dock, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales CF63 4AB. Tel: +44 1446 720066. Fax: +44 1446 700801. Email: hpuk@harris-pye.com
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