Practical Training in the Energy Industry

Matthew Laskaj – Managing Director of Project Engineering Management Ltd and Chair of IMechE for Aberdeen, shares his thoughts on the importance of Continuous Professional Development to the future of the Energy sector..

Project Engineering Management Ltd was founded by Matthew in May 2015 with a focus on managing engineering projects and business process improvements. 

Matthew has always believed that training and continuous educational improvement are critical to the successful future of Engineering within the Energy sector and feels that now more than ever, something further needs to be done to attract our Engineers of the future and develop those already midway through their careers. 

But how do we attract and develop these individuals? 

Matthew believes that inspiration is what is needed to get people involved and passionate about engineering, utilising the benefits of new technology and alternative learning styles.

Practical training

Practical training courses aid learning through using examples, experiences and challenges from previous real-life projects and connecting them to learning activities in order to create an interesting, fun and engaging environment. This is the foundation of the training courses delivered by Project Engineering Management Ltd to organisations throughout the UK.

This concept has also been transferred to the younger generation. For the last 2 years, Matthew has worked with Tullos Training to develop and deliver selected subjects of an HNC program in engineering to apprentices, typically in their 2nd and 3rd year of a Modern Apprenticeship. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) provide guidelines for course content and delivery length. But in order to ‘inspire’ the apprentices, his classes include regular visits to local businesses so students can interact with the industry and the variety of people involved. Matthew says ‘The support we have received from local business has been fantastic. They not only allow us to visit their workplace and see how they operate, but they take the time out of their busy schedules to personally conduct a tour and explain what happens and what their roles are. The students get to see first-hand the types of jobs they could one day be involved in and the duties they would be performing. It is very important for their development to reinforce the classroom learning with a vision of where they may one day be heading and the jobs they could be carrying out’.

On the back of the success of the HNC program, Tullos Training have recently been awarded a contract to deliver a Foundation Apprenticeship (FA) to a number of schools in Aberdeenshire. This is a Skills Development Scotland (SDS) initiative, providing new, work-based learning which enables students to complete elements of a Modern Apprenticeship while still at school. The format of the FA has recently been revised so that the students get more experience in the workshops before heading out into companies for work experience. Students undertaking secondary 5th and 6th year at school can opt to complete an NC in engineering (other courses are also available as described on the SQA website) alongside Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) units which are undertaken in the workshop. The successful completion of an FA is recognised as one or two Highers depending on the course and the college or university offering this programme. 

Matthew says ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for the involvement of students and Project Engineering Management Ltd at the same time as it fits in with the theme of linking both practice and theory. Students are able to gain an understanding and experience in engineering before deciding which direction to head further down the line. The challenge is to keep the students engaged throughout the classes and the entire course as a whole. By providing both aspects of the industry, as well as work place experience towards the end of the course, I believe this is a great opportunity for the students to get a wide range of experience. Ultimately, it makes the students more employable and better equipped to join the workforce.’

As the current Chair for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Aberdeen Area, Matthew highlights that the IMechE vision is to Develop Engineers, Promote Engineering, Inform Opinion and Encourage Innovation.  A vision which is closely aligned to the aforementioned development and promotion of engineers viewed as critical to the future success of the industry.

‘By being creative and innovative, we can help the current and future generation of engineers develop and improve competence. We must have the passion for what we do ourselves in order to inspire others’. 

For Project Engineering Management Ltd, this passion is managing engineering projects and being in the fortunate position to be able to develop others at the same time.