What do you do in your day job?

I’m an offshore coordinator team leader for Westermost Rough which is an offshore windfarm situated 8km off the Yorkshire Coast, north of Hull.  I love the role, I manage a team of people who look after the coordination and communication with people when they go offshore, which includes vessel transport planning, maintaining radio contact, ensuring they have all the up to date information including restrictions if any. Our main responsibility is knowing who is offshore, ensuring they are safe to be offshore and ensuring they come back onshore.

What do you love most about your job?

I love my job. Every day is different and when you arrive in the morning you don’t know what that day might hold. It’s a really sociable job too, we’re the place to go if people need any support whether they’re planning a trip or already offshore so there’s always people popping by, from the Head of Operations to the vessel crews, you never know who’s going to walk through the door. I love meeting new people so it’s the perfect job for me.

What made you want to get into the renewables industry?

I was working at a gas power station when I read an article about DONG Energy, and it made me think. I wasn’t sure what the future of the gas station was and the article said that Ørstedwere recruiting in Grimsby so I applied and got the job. The industry attracted me because it’s growing so rapidly. As an example – I currently look after offshore coordination for Westermost Rough but we also operate Gunfleet Sands and will be taking over operation of Lincs windfarm in February 2018. We’re also constructing another two windfarms off the Yorkshire coast; Race Bank, and Hornsea Project One. When built, Hornsea Project One will be the biggest windfarm in the world,  but we also recently got the go ahead for Hornsea Project Two which two years later will leapfrog that and be the biggest! So not only do I feel positive about what I’m doing, I know there’s a strong future for this company and industry too.

What advice would you give to someone applying for a job at Ørsted?

Believe in yourself. I actually applied for a different role, as a site assistant, and when they told me they’d like to offer me the offshore coordinator role I couldn’t believe it! I really questioned whether I’d be able to do it, but they had confidence in me. The feedback I got was that it was because I had a good attitude towards work. So even if you don’t have the experience sometimes it’s your mind-set that counts.

What qualities do you think are important for your role?

As things such as weather conditions or sea restrictions can change rapidly, you have to be able to think on your feet and react quickly to solve any problems. The job involves communication an coordination with many different people so it helps if you can quickly develop relationships, and enjoy meeting new people. At first I had to ask a lot of questions because I hadn’t had experience in the offshore wind industry, which some people might be too scared to do, but it allowed me to learn quickly and I think it gained me respect.

What’s been your biggest achievement?

I was part of the team that introduced helicopter operations to Westermost Rough. It’s the first time we’ve used helicopters in the UK to transport our staff to and from the windfarm, and it involved a lot of planning and persistence. There are so many aspects to consider and challenges to overcome, and there were many times when I couldn’t see how we would get it to work. So it was a really great and proud feeling to be part of the team that achieved this milestone for Ørsted. I was nominated for a president’s award (an internal award given each year by our Group CEO) for my work on the project, which I was extremely flattered by and was so surprised when I won! It’s such an exciting thing to be part of, I’ve been out in the helicopter a couple of times and as we use it almost daily I am constantly reminded of what we achieved. 

Where do you live? Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Job title: Wind turbine technician – lead technician
Qualifications: NVQ Level 2 & 3 Mechanical Engineering. I’m a safety rep at work so I have an IOSH H&S qualification and I am currently studying for a NEBOSH H&S qualification

Tell us about the company you work for, Ørsted: 
Ørstedis the global leader in offshore wind. It was formed around ten years ago and is headquartered in Denmark although the UK is a key market for us. We have eight operational windfarms in the UK, a further four under construction and with more in the pipeline Ørsted, and the offshore wind industry, is growing rapidly.

What do you do in your job as a Wind Turbine Technician?

My primary role is the service and maintenance of our offshore wind turbines at Walney Offshore Windfarm. This includes inspections, scheduled maintenance and troubleshooting any small faults that come up and fixing them. I lead a small team and together we perform a range of manual tasks to ensure that the wind turbines are working reliably and at maximum efficiency. Because we’re out at sea and sometimes in challenging weather conditions, ensuring it’s done safely is probably the biggest part of my job. 

How does your work affect the production of renewable wave energy? 
Just like a car, wind turbines need servicing every year. There are 102 turbines at Walney 1 + 2, which need to be in good order to be able to produce enough energy for 250,000 homes, so I feel our role is vital in the production of renewable wind as we ensure everything is working correctly and efficiently.

How does it feel to work in an industry that’s important to the future of the planet? 
It feels good to work in the offshore wind industry as it has a somewhat moral feel to it. To know that the work I do contributes to our country emitting less carbon is quite humbling. The industry is growing rapidly so I feel like I’m part of something big which is moving forward and benefitting society without harming the planet.

Ørsted operates three offshore wind farms off the Barrow coast with another under construction, why is Barrow a good place to generate wind energy? 
Lots of factors go into where is a good place to build a wind farm. You need shallow waters and good sea bed for foundations, and of course lots of wind. I’ve lived here all my life and can safely say it’s a very windy place!  When Ørsted first began construction in Barrow over ten years ago there wasn’t much infrastructure to support the offshore wind industry here, but thanks to significant investment from Ørsted and other companies the Barrow area now has great capabilities for offshore wind. The supply chain has also diversified so it’s capable of supplying green energy as well as nuclear!

Could you describe an average day?

A typical day starts with a brief from a supervisor where they’ll tell us what the work is for the day. It’s an early start, normally around 6am, to give us time to sail out to the windfarm, do what we need and then get back again. Normally I’ll have some idea of what needs doing from the day before, but this is a chance for us to go into more detail and be given specific tasks and particular safety talks or things to be aware of. We’ll then get our tools and equipment together before getting on the boat. The journey takes about 1 – 1.5 hrs and can be a bit choppy in the winter! But you get used to it and actually it’s a nice chance to have a bit of time to relax before getting to work on the turbine. When we arrive at the windfarm we transfer onto the transmission piece. This can be a bit scary on a bad weather day but you’re always in control. They [Ørsted] wouldn’t let you do it if it wasn’t safe and there’s no pressure if you don’t feel comfortable. We then crane the gear off the boat, stop the turbine and get the lift up to the top. At 150m the view is impressive, nearly as tall as Blackpool Tower! We use the crane to transfer the equipment up, carry out the work, which could be a variety of things, and go back to shore the way we came.

Which “branch” of engineering do you work in? 
My NVQ is in mechanical engineering, but as a wind turbine technician there tends to be more electrical than mechanical. I wouldn’t call myself an electrician, but I know what I’m doing up there as I’ve had all the relevant training I need in-house.

What is it like working in Barrow?
I’m from Barrow originally so pretty lucky to have all this on my doorstep. Barrow has a good industrial background with the shipyard and so on, so there’s no shortage of skills in the area. 

How did you find out about your job? 
I first saw the job in a newspaper advert. I applied and came for an interview and was successful – this was three years ago now. I hadn’t really heard of Ørsted before then but I’m glad I went for it as the job is really interesting – I never thought the view from the top of a 150m turbine would be a daily occurrence!  

What do you find most challenging about your job? 
The most challenging part of my job is working under time constraints and making sure everything we do is done safely. Everyone is responsible for their own safe work but as I’m a team leader I have extra responsibility in making sure the rest of the team are working safely – this is really important to me. As we work out at sea we can also have quite challenging weather conditions – but we’d never go out in anything risky so the worst it gets is a bit bumpy on the boat!

What first got you interested in engineering? 
From a young age I always liked getting hands-on and fixing stuff. I knew I’d have a good career ahead of me if I studied engineering and so far that’s turned out to be true! There’s plenty of scope for progression, after three years I’m already leading a team so I’m looking forward to the future.

What subjects did you study at school?

At school I studied Maths, English and Science GCSEs as well as a vocational course in engineering and motor vehicle cars. I then went on to college to do my NVQ2 in mechanical engineering and completed my NVQ3 at my previous employment at BAE Systems.

And how are these subjects important to what you do now? 
I think the vocational courses I did are more related to what I’m doing now than Maths English and Science. I enjoyed them more and it turned out I was better at them. I think they should do more vocational courses at younger ages and give young people opportunities to learn things which will directly help them to get a job straight away, or go to college with a bit more knowledge.

What kind of personal qualities do you think are important for an engineer?
You need a good eye for detail – you can’t cut corners in this job, and you spend a lot of time working with colleagues so it’s important to be friendly. Generally speaking, engineers should be persistent, as sometimes you need to try different solutions, and they should be the sort of people that are always looking to do things more efficiently. Good communication is also extremely important, especially for my role where you’re out at sea working on complex machinery.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to get into a similar career?
Find something you’re interested in and go for it. If you’re not lucky enough to get a job, apprenticeships can be a great route or go to college and try and get an NVQ2. That’s what I did and it definitely helped me when I went for my first job.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Keeping fit and spending time with my girlfriend and daughter. 

What I do
In my job I plan and coordinate the maintenance tasks at one of our operational wind farms, Burbo Bank. One of the key areas of my role is to monitor the weather, vessel and technician availability to ensure that we can carry out the work we plan to do. I ensure that tasks that have been planned are completed during the day and reschedule any work where necessary.

I also monitor overall maintenance plans to ensure that we are on schedule with work and deal with back office to organize work that must be carried out on site from executing work orders, to Balance of Plant tasks and requesting additional resources for work.

What drives me
I love the variety and the challenges. Although I have my routine work, no day is ever the same and I am constantly learning something new. Ørsted lifts your aspirations and motivates you to strive to do better and this has had a positive impact in my personal life too.

I also love the development opportunities available and am taking part in the Teach First Mentoring scheme which is linked with Manchester University. For 14 months, I will be mentoring two sixth form students to offer support as they decide on their future career steps.

My career path
I went to University College London and studied Anthropology and Geography. Before that, I worked as a Project Coordinator at Hawker Beechcraft in Chester.

My advice
Do your research and find out about the variety of roles available. Ørsted loves problem solvers and I would strongly recommend providing examples of times when you have done so. Not only this, but don’t be afraid to be resilient and assertive.

What I do
I am the Lead Project Manager responsible for the electrical package on Race Bank.  That includes delivery of all the grid connections, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), HV electrical equipment, HV cable onshore and offshore supply and installation and array cable supply and installation - so a lot!

What drives me
I love working on big complex projects, and it doesn't get much more complex than what we do.  We get a lot of opportunities to work on innovative solutions, and we have some of the most clever and experienced people in our industry – It doesn't get a lot better than that in my view.

My career path
I completed by Bachelors of Engineering in Electrical Engineering, and I also have Masters of Science in Project Management. I have worked in large construction, and then started working on onshore wind farms, then gained experienced in offshore wind farms before moving to Ørsted. 

My advice
Don't shy away from a challenge and be ready to be a valuable contributor to the team. If you share those ambitions, you’ll get rewarded by working for a great company and great people.

What I do
I ensure that our warehouse activities are accurate, safe and run smoothly. I manage the facility and streamline our processes by working with the operations team and suppliers, making sure our team has everything they require to work at their best. From the procurement of nuts and bolts to preparing equipment to be transported to the Windfarm via Our Helicopter Operation, never a dull day!

What drives me
Being part of the Ørsted Team at Grimsby, we thrive on resolving day to day issues. The excitement for new challenges that we are faced with in the Renewable Energy sector, and the opportunity to work alongside skilled colleagues.

My career path
My experience in the Royal Air Force, British Rail and in a lean Manufacturing environment exposed me to a wealth of knowledge and experience. I have obtained several qualifications and licenses which allow me to carry out the role I currently have.        

My advice
Ørsted is a modern forward thinking company, always developing the latest innovations. It’s the type of place that gives you ownership of your work. Everyday offers a new challenge, so embrace the experience!

What I do
In my role, I support the Head of Operations to plan, direct, and manage our operational offshore wind sites. I work closely with our technicians where we do regulatory inspections, data tracking, and provide first line support at our sites. Safety is our number one priority, so my team and I ensure that we take care of ourselves and colleagues both on and offshore.

What drives me
We have a strong team that are true ambassadors of our company’s principles. We work hard, have integrity with strong moral principles, and always put safety first. We truly care about getting the results and are extremely passionate about what we do. The team has strong leadership and good management that has led to excellent working relationships. I’ve completed over 10 different roles in my previous employment, but this has been the most rewarding.

My career path
I spent 26 years in the Armed Forces reaching the commissioned rank of Captain.  I completed various positions in HR, Logistics, and Training and Development. I then worked for Siemens as a Planner for 12 months prior to my employment here. I initially started at Ørsted as an Offshore Coordinator and a short time after, I am now in a Deputy Operations Manager secondment role. 

My advice
I believe this is a company that empowers their employees. Competitive wages alongside a great reputation in the local areas make them a great employer. If you want to be part of a forward-looking company, Ørsted is for you.

What do you do in your job?  
I am the Construction Manager for the Hornsea Project One onshore substation, I am responsible for managing the delivery of the onshore substation throughout the construction phase from a green field to a full commissioned and operational substation.

What do you love about your job?
The best thing about my job is that it is dynamic, even though we have a detailed plans for the project each day brings new challenges. It is very rewarding in that the end result is something real that you can see, touch and be proud of.

What inspired you to work in the renewables industry/your role?
I first came into renewables whilst working for the Principal Contractor on the Westermost Rough onshore substation, which introduced me to the offshore wind industry and Ørsted. I enjoyed the project and working with Ørsted so much that following successful delivery I upped sticks and joined Ørsted on the Burbo Bank project.

Do you have any insights for someone wanting to get into a similar career?
Unfortunately there is no quick way to become a Construction Manager as it relies on experience and knowledge built up over time. A degree in a construction related topic is a good starting point and from there look to join a company that is recognised for investing in their employees, that will give you the right training and experience to advance your career. It's hard work but worth it!

​What I do
I work on the delivery and maintenance of IT solutions for the business. It is a techno-functional role which acts as a bridge to translate business requirements into feasible solutions that our various business areas need to use in their line of work. 

What drives me
What I enjoy the most is our work environment and people. All my colleagues are supportive. They are ready to acknowledge and appreciate each other’s efforts. We also have a great sense of humour making it a fun and comfortable place to work. 

My Career Path
I am a computer science engineer with all my work experience based in the utilities & energy domain.

My advice
There’s a good mix of challenging tasks here. If you are ready to carve out a special place for yourself in the energy industry, then this company is meant for you!

What I do
I work in the Electrical Systems Analysis department in Engineering. I manage the overall electrical system design for offshore wind farm projects and I also ensure that we are able to connect our wind farm to national electricity grid without any issues. I get work on one-of-a-kind projects which come where I get to solve the challenges that come along with the process.

What drives me 
The biggest driver for me is being part of company that supports the energy transformer to a greener future.

My career path
I have a Master of Technology in Power and Energy Systems. Previous to that I worked for Vestas in the R&D Division where I worked more on the supplier side of things.

My advice 
Ørsted offers you the most exciting work with number of challenging projects in the pipeline. In addition, being a Danish company the work culture is very open and offers variety of benefits.

What do you do in your job?
I'm an offshore wind turbine project manager, so overall I'm responsible for everything which has to do with getting the wind turbines installed out at sea and producing power. This includes managing the contract, ensuring health and safety throughout the project, making sure we progress on time and budget, and managing any risks. 

What do you love about your job?
I love the excitement of building up these huge turbines in a challenging environment, especially dealing with such a large scope with only a small team and having a lot of responsibility in that process. Getting the job done is really motivating and satisfying.

Initially I thought working in renewables and in a "green" industry was a nice to have – because I thought the biggest part I would like is the huge structures we're dealing with. But after getting into the job I found contributing to the well-being of people and our planet actually meant much more to me than I thought, so now I wouldn't want to miss that.

What qualifications have you got?
I've got a masters degree in geophysics which although isn't directly related to this role has helped me have the right mindset, and technical and physics understanding I need in this role. I also did quite a bit of field work during my masters so although the actual content is different, having experience in the practical side of things is very helpful.

What kind of personal qualities do you think are important for your role?
It’s essential to have a questioning attitude and never give up. I think it’s also important to like having lots of responsibility. At times you also need a lot of energy, and to really love what you do because it is high pressure, but very rewarding. For this sort of project manager role you have to be able to combine enough technical insight with the ability to drive people. It’s just good leadership skills really, so you can pull people together including contractors and stakeholders around you and motivate people to do their work well.