Subsea UK has launched a new support service to help companies bring new talent into the subsea sector by making it easier to recruit apprentices.

Companies are put off recruiting apprentices because of the time and cost involved in what is perceived as a complex process.

Subsea UK’s scheme will provide financial support and specific help with making the process simpler so that small firms can benefit from apprentices and develop the next generation of subsea workers.

Subsea UK will offer tailored support to individual companies to help them with the overall recruitment process, development of training plans, setting clear roles and responsibilities for on-the-job training and conducting assessments.

Subsea UK CEO, Neil Gordon said, “The majority of our 320 members are smaller-sized companies who are put off recruiting apprentices because they lack the HR [human resources] knowledge and resources to deal with the overall recruitment and management process.

“Our findings revealed that they often turn to training providers or organisations but often this doesn’t work for them. The research showed that the most effective approach to make it easier for these companies to take on apprentices would be practical, one-to-one consultancy to support them through the process rather than producing generic guidance, which is already available through other skills organisations.”

Offshore