Wind turbine technician
Discussion
An update for you all re training:
We're now able to arrange SWT approved training as well as the majority of the other courses you'll require. Until March next year, these courses will be held out in Esjberg - Denmark. Come March 2012, the new UK training facility will be open and this will enable you to do the training in Newcastle.
If you want any further info, just drop me a PM.
Clearly it goes without saying that simply by having this training, it won't guarantee you a job. It will however give you a clear advantage when applying to O&Ms or indeed Siemens as it's something they won't have to pay for themselves and it also shows your commitment to gaining a job in the sector.
We're now able to arrange SWT approved training as well as the majority of the other courses you'll require. Until March next year, these courses will be held out in Esjberg - Denmark. Come March 2012, the new UK training facility will be open and this will enable you to do the training in Newcastle.
If you want any further info, just drop me a PM.
Clearly it goes without saying that simply by having this training, it won't guarantee you a job. It will however give you a clear advantage when applying to O&Ms or indeed Siemens as it's something they won't have to pay for themselves and it also shows your commitment to gaining a job in the sector.
Gents, I have managed to get myself in the door in the industry. All I can say is keep persisting and network network network. I was successful through sheer persistence and getting contacts from contacts until I had a list of about 20 people actively recruiting in the industry.
Good luck all and I would echo Markp13's sentiments that this industry is going to be recruiting hard in the new year as even the company I am with are looking to double the size of their team.
Good luck all and I would echo Markp13's sentiments that this industry is going to be recruiting hard in the new year as even the company I am with are looking to double the size of their team.
windman2011 said:
Gents, I have managed to get myself in the door in the industry. All I can say is keep persisting and network network network. I was successful through sheer persistence and getting contacts from contacts until I had a list of about 20 people actively recruiting in the industry.
Good luck all and I would echo Markp13's sentiments that this industry is going to be recruiting hard in the new year as even the company I am with are looking to double the size of their team.
Congrats mate - what did you get in as ? Install/commission/service ?Good luck all and I would echo Markp13's sentiments that this industry is going to be recruiting hard in the new year as even the company I am with are looking to double the size of their team.
Feel free to pm/email the details of the company you got in with/contact name if they are wishing to double in the new year
Escargot, have you heard anything regarding recruitment for windfarms in America or Canada? I've heard a few bits regarding experienced European contractors being asked to supply manpower over there for the installation and wondered if you'd heard anything being as you're in the loop... Cheers.
Hi matey, we haven't been asked, or indeed neither have any of our O&M clients. It's not surprising though, I'd imagine the Americans are in a similar situation to us over here in terms of a lack of experienced technicians and a difficulty in affording to put people through training etc.
GSP said:
scorchio said:
Hi windymill the offshore market the now cant seem to get enough of good sparkies, one of our guys just left to go to transocean on rotation two on two off trainee starting wage of 48,000 a year then there is bonuses to go on top of that too
Are you talking oil and gas, or wind industry though?If your talking wind then I wouldn't be surprised if he was telling extended truths or had been misinformed when he told you that
very experienced UK techs would be doing well to earn that AFTER allowances and bonuses... Let alone a trainee with no WTG installation and/or commissioning experience. Wind salaries are getting there but they arn't into oil and gas territory yet.That will be TOI, Houston, O&G.
Contract salary £115k pa.
V.
Edited by uk_vette on Tuesday 15th November 12:20
escargot said:
Hi matey, we haven't been asked, or indeed neither have any of our O&M clients. It's not surprising though, I'd imagine the Americans are in a similar situation to us over here in terms of a lack of experienced technicians and a difficulty in affording to put people through training etc.
Yeah, that was the gist of what I heard, but regarding installation teams for piles/ turbines. We'll see what happens in a few years when they're starting to mob up. Anyway, hope you're well and all that, the business looks like it's flying at any rate... 
Hi All,
I came across this Thread whilst searching for information on Wind Turbine Technicians. I am thinking of changing careers and going for a position as a trainee WTT.
Ideally I would like to get a job at the new Offshore Wind Farm Gwynt y Môr as I from the area and would imagine that many new job opportunities will be coming up in the near future. I have done some research and found out that construction of the Wind Turbines will not begin till May 2013. I was wondering if anyone here knows when Siemens/ RWE will start recruiting for maintenance or commissioning roles at the new site? I would like to stay in this area so the position which allows me to do this would be better. Is it possible to go from Commissioning across to Maintenance once the Turbines have been constructed?
Regarding myself I have no experience with Wind Turbines so would be looking for a trainee role. I do have experience in Electrical Commissioning and Maintenance and some Mechanical too.
Currently I am an Electrical Commissioning Engineer which I have been doing for the last two years. Before this I was in the Royal Navy where I was an Electrical/ Mechanical Engineer for eight years. This role involved planned maintenance and defect investigation/ rectification. I have a HND in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
I was wondering if anyone who has any info or knowledge on the above position could help me out?
Many Thanks,
Jake
I came across this Thread whilst searching for information on Wind Turbine Technicians. I am thinking of changing careers and going for a position as a trainee WTT.
Ideally I would like to get a job at the new Offshore Wind Farm Gwynt y Môr as I from the area and would imagine that many new job opportunities will be coming up in the near future. I have done some research and found out that construction of the Wind Turbines will not begin till May 2013. I was wondering if anyone here knows when Siemens/ RWE will start recruiting for maintenance or commissioning roles at the new site? I would like to stay in this area so the position which allows me to do this would be better. Is it possible to go from Commissioning across to Maintenance once the Turbines have been constructed?
Regarding myself I have no experience with Wind Turbines so would be looking for a trainee role. I do have experience in Electrical Commissioning and Maintenance and some Mechanical too.
Currently I am an Electrical Commissioning Engineer which I have been doing for the last two years. Before this I was in the Royal Navy where I was an Electrical/ Mechanical Engineer for eight years. This role involved planned maintenance and defect investigation/ rectification. I have a HND in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
I was wondering if anyone who has any info or knowledge on the above position could help me out?
Many Thanks,
Jake
Jake Ive been looking into the mostyn port/Gwynt y Môr project as well.
Just keep researching and banging on the doors, although the fact your ex forces will probably get you a look in at an interview - Doubtful you get any choice on install/commission roles if you want to stay local, just go where your told, whereas the service tech would suit you right down to the ground.
I dont know for sure as I'm still trying to get in myself, but I think offshore techs stay on the barge/pontoon during off hours of their shifts - hopefully someone in the know can confirm?
Good luck anyway.
Just keep researching and banging on the doors, although the fact your ex forces will probably get you a look in at an interview - Doubtful you get any choice on install/commission roles if you want to stay local, just go where your told, whereas the service tech would suit you right down to the ground.
I dont know for sure as I'm still trying to get in myself, but I think offshore techs stay on the barge/pontoon during off hours of their shifts - hopefully someone in the know can confirm?
Good luck anyway.
Installation technicians stay on the jack up vessel while on shift, and go home when off. Currently 2 weeks on 1 week off.
Commissioning technicians either stay onshore and travel daily out to site, or stay onboard C-bed hotel vessels based at site. Each project is different in this respect depending on crew transfer times etc. Last time I visited a hotel vessel the techs were doing 4 weeks on 2 weeks off although I'm sure all that is changing.
If you were to apply for siemens, you would be applying for a WTG technician role, you would not get a choice of an onshore/offshore role or installation/commissioning, you would go where you were needed. Moving forwards all techs are supposed to be versatile and able to do anything, at least that's my understanding.
You definitely would not get to pick to work on a specific wind farm like Gwynt y Mor. A project I'm heavily involved in.
As ever your best bet is to get applying, hopefully secure a position and start building your experience.
Commissioning technicians either stay onshore and travel daily out to site, or stay onboard C-bed hotel vessels based at site. Each project is different in this respect depending on crew transfer times etc. Last time I visited a hotel vessel the techs were doing 4 weeks on 2 weeks off although I'm sure all that is changing.
If you were to apply for siemens, you would be applying for a WTG technician role, you would not get a choice of an onshore/offshore role or installation/commissioning, you would go where you were needed. Moving forwards all techs are supposed to be versatile and able to do anything, at least that's my understanding.
You definitely would not get to pick to work on a specific wind farm like Gwynt y Mor. A project I'm heavily involved in.
As ever your best bet is to get applying, hopefully secure a position and start building your experience.
Yep for installation its 12hr shifts generally, and it's pretty much to rule. If you have 45 minutes until you complete a task you would generally crack on and finish.
The last vessel I was on the guys did very little work for the whole 2 week period due to weather and equipment issues, so it can be very boring at times, particularly on the installation vessels. Some are good, some are terrible.
Because the installation was delayed the commissioning techs never left the hotel vessel in 4 weeks, the facilities are awesome on the hotels vessels, but after 4 weeks of doing nothing you would still be bored to death.
In comparison some projects have programmed installation times of 6 complete turbines installed a week, and if the weather plays ball you would be flat out non stop.
The last vessel I was on the guys did very little work for the whole 2 week period due to weather and equipment issues, so it can be very boring at times, particularly on the installation vessels. Some are good, some are terrible.
Because the installation was delayed the commissioning techs never left the hotel vessel in 4 weeks, the facilities are awesome on the hotels vessels, but after 4 weeks of doing nothing you would still be bored to death.
In comparison some projects have programmed installation times of 6 complete turbines installed a week, and if the weather plays ball you would be flat out non stop.
Right chaps, I am struggling to get a grasp of these offshore turbine tech roles.
It seems you can expect to earn around 24-30k? as a trained qualified technician.
Any you need to have electrical qualifications?
Well sorry to put my foot in it, but if that are the rewards on offer for the job, in my opinion thats frankly cr@# !!
And reading that many of you guys are willing to forkout £1k plus out of your own pocket to train!
I know times are hard, but any decent qualified experianced electrician should be able to earn this as a minimum. Thats without working 12 hours a day away from home.
I have been a qualified spark for 23 years and have never struggled to find work, and was earing far more than 30k even 10 years ago. I live in Somerset, not exactly the most prosperous area in the country either.
P.S any qualified, experianced industrial electricians preferably with current nuclear vetting in the Somerset area looking for work please pm me.
It seems you can expect to earn around 24-30k? as a trained qualified technician.
Any you need to have electrical qualifications?
Well sorry to put my foot in it, but if that are the rewards on offer for the job, in my opinion thats frankly cr@# !!
And reading that many of you guys are willing to forkout £1k plus out of your own pocket to train!
I know times are hard, but any decent qualified experianced electrician should be able to earn this as a minimum. Thats without working 12 hours a day away from home.
I have been a qualified spark for 23 years and have never struggled to find work, and was earing far more than 30k even 10 years ago. I live in Somerset, not exactly the most prosperous area in the country either.
P.S any qualified, experianced industrial electricians preferably with current nuclear vetting in the Somerset area looking for work please pm me.
unclemark123 said:
Right chaps, I am struggling to get a grasp of these offshore turbine tech roles.
It seems you can expect to earn around 24-30k? as a trained qualified technician.
Any you need to have electrical qualifications?
Well sorry to put my foot in it, but if that are the rewards on offer for the job, in my opinion thats frankly cr@# !!
And reading that many of you guys are willing to forkout £1k plus out of your own pocket to train!
I know times are hard, but any decent qualified experianced electrician should be able to earn this as a minimum. Thats without working 12 hours a day away from home.
I have been a qualified spark for 23 years and have never struggled to find work, and was earing far more than 30k even 10 years ago. I live in Somerset, not exactly the most prosperous area in the country either.
P.S any qualified, experianced industrial electricians preferably with current nuclear vetting in the Somerset area looking for work please pm me.
From my perspective I want to get into the wind turbine industry because I find it really interesting and involves every part of my current job that I really enjoy only bigger and much better, and as far as I can tell has none of the bad parts so its a win win, I am currently unhappy/bored where I am, doing what I am doing as I have done it for 18 years and wish to transfer across to carve out a long term career for myself doing something I know I will thoroughly enjoy. If paying out a grand or two helps me to get on my way at some point I would do it in the blink of an eye.It seems you can expect to earn around 24-30k? as a trained qualified technician.
Any you need to have electrical qualifications?
Well sorry to put my foot in it, but if that are the rewards on offer for the job, in my opinion thats frankly cr@# !!
And reading that many of you guys are willing to forkout £1k plus out of your own pocket to train!
I know times are hard, but any decent qualified experianced electrician should be able to earn this as a minimum. Thats without working 12 hours a day away from home.
I have been a qualified spark for 23 years and have never struggled to find work, and was earing far more than 30k even 10 years ago. I live in Somerset, not exactly the most prosperous area in the country either.
P.S any qualified, experianced industrial electricians preferably with current nuclear vetting in the Somerset area looking for work please pm me.
I have all current relevant elec quals and could walk into a 'sparks' job tomorrow with them, but it isn't the job I want to do or industry I want to move into.....or else I would have done it, I am also currently earning your quoted figures and have done for a number of years, as a 'trainee' tech the figures certainly aren't to complain about imho.
Money isn't everything, I want job satisfaction and to enjoy what I am doing and with it, working with a good bunch of people on a daily basis with scope for career development and prospects. Plus the time off, certainly for me is a huge bonus and the way i look at it works out for me far better than a small salary increase.
Folks,
We've got some Wind Turbine tech instructor/trainer jobs. The pre-requisite is that you're either in a similiar job with the likes of Siemens, Vestas, Nordex et al, or you're an experienced wind turbine techy looking to take a bit of a new direction in your career. The salary & package on offer with this position is seriously, seriously good.
Drop me a line if interested.
We've got some Wind Turbine tech instructor/trainer jobs. The pre-requisite is that you're either in a similiar job with the likes of Siemens, Vestas, Nordex et al, or you're an experienced wind turbine techy looking to take a bit of a new direction in your career. The salary & package on offer with this position is seriously, seriously good.
Drop me a line if interested.
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the replies.
My understanding now from the info that you provided is that Installation and Commissioning Technicians can be based anywhere? However I’m slightly confused regarding the Service/ Maintenance Technicians? My understanding is that Siemens have the contract to Service Gwynt y Mor for five years with a possible extension at the end of that for seven years? When I have been searching for jobs over the last few months I have come across Siemens Service Technician Jobs and they are all based in one location. Are you saying that this will not the case for Gwynt y Mor? Currently Siemens have one advertised for Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm where you work four on/ four off? Will they not be doing this with the new site?
Sorry for all the questions but part of me wanting to move into this line of work is that im based closer to home and not working away for weeks on end which I have done in the past. A four on/ four off shift would suit me down to the ground though.
Thanks
Jake
Thanks for the replies.
My understanding now from the info that you provided is that Installation and Commissioning Technicians can be based anywhere? However I’m slightly confused regarding the Service/ Maintenance Technicians? My understanding is that Siemens have the contract to Service Gwynt y Mor for five years with a possible extension at the end of that for seven years? When I have been searching for jobs over the last few months I have come across Siemens Service Technician Jobs and they are all based in one location. Are you saying that this will not the case for Gwynt y Mor? Currently Siemens have one advertised for Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm where you work four on/ four off? Will they not be doing this with the new site?
Sorry for all the questions but part of me wanting to move into this line of work is that im based closer to home and not working away for weeks on end which I have done in the past. A four on/ four off shift would suit me down to the ground though.
Thanks
Jake
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