A Career in the Energy Industry
There are a huge number of opportunities available to Service leavers and veterans within the Energy sector. This article gives an overview of what working in this sector might be like.
What can I expect to earn?
Energy professionals receive a significantly higher average salary than workers in other UK industries. A recent poll of 900 energy professionals across the UK conducted by Hays Energy showed that 74% of respondents earned in excess of £41,000pa (national average: £26,244pa).
According to Hays Energy, the results of their study suggest that energy professionals have remained a valuable asset despite the global financial crisis. It also found that demand for energy professionals across the UK is growing, with a larger workforce needed for the future. The Energy industry can also offer a long term career with good progression opportunities, benefits and job security.
Desirable Skills
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral
- Good IT skills
- Good analytical and problem solving skills
- Excellent organizational and planning skills
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Leadership, initiative, motivation and enthusiasm
- Teamwork
- Good technical skills
- Willingness to retrain specific to sector requirements
If you possess these skills, many of the large client companies will invest in training programmes to teach you all you will need to know for a career in the Energy sector.
Energy Sector Jobs
Typical jobs within the Energy sector may include:
- Engineering
- Design
- Mechanical
- Electrical
- Structural
- Geotechnical
- Product development
- Civil
- Safety case
- Commissioning/Decommissioning
- Pipeline
- Control and instrumentation
- Technician
- Maintenance
- Operations
- Installation
- Drilling
- Environmental
- Health and safety
- Logistics
- Procurement
- IT/Communications
- Quality and inspection
- Marine/Diving
- Sales/Marketing
- Refinery and distribution
- Project manager
- Scientists
- Waste management
Find your New Career
Opportunities within the Energy sector exist throughout the UK and internationally. There is presently a skills shortage within the industry, and Energy sector companies may be looking to recruit one, two or over 100 new candidates to join their companies.
To find what opportunities are available to you, visit our Jobs page and select 'Energy' from the Sector drop-down menu.
Working with NOF Energy
BFRS have teamed up with NOF Energy, the UK’s leading business development organisation for the Energy sector, to provide our members with the best possible introduction to the Energy sector. Together, we have launched Military2Energy, an initiative to find ex-Service personnel opportunities in the following areas of the Energy sector:
• Oil and gas (upstream, downstream and subsea)
• Nuclear (decommissioning and new build)
• Renewable energy (offshore wind, wave and tidal)
Some of NOF Energy's key clients in the energy sector include BP, Shell, Centrica, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Total, EDF Energy, British Gas, Scottish Power, EON, Amec, Technip, Siemens, GE Oil & Gas, Jacobs Engineering and Sellafield to name just a few.
You can find out more about Military2Energy by visiting their website at www.military2energy.com.