This is an exciting time for ASET and CITB as we realise our vision of creating a centre of excellence for scaffolding training in the North of Scotland.
The centre opened its door to the first apprentices and commercial cohort on 3rd October 2016. The level of enquiries and course bookings to date has been very promising.
I would like thank everyone involved in this project – from the architects to the builders and team members from both ASET and CITB. A lot has happened in a very short time and we can all be very proud of this purpose-built facility. Located near Aberdeen, the Centre will provide industry accredited scaffolding training to the North of Scotland, from Dundee to Shetland — both apprenticeships provision and commercial courses.
I was delighted that ASET was chosen to partner with CITB on this project. In many ways it is a natural fit given that ASET delivers highly specialised vocational training to the oil and gas sector. This new centre offers unparalleled opportunities for the region through its extensive range of CISRS and SQA accredited courses.
This investment underpins ASET’s long term commitment to the North East business community and economy. The new Scaffolding Training Centre will provide a local training facility to construction companies based in the North of Scotland who have, for too long, had to send their employees to Glasgow and further afield. It will also create new career opportunities in what is currently a depressed oil and gas employment market due to the low global oil price.
Companies will now have a greater choice in selecting the right training options to develop the skills of their workforce, and individuals can choose to develop existing, or acquire new skills, in readiness for emerging market opportunities in the decommissioning arena.
I look forward to building on the excellent foundations already established between ASET and CITB.
About the author
Atholl Menzies is the Chief Executive at ASET International Oil & Gas Training Academy.
ASET is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of North East Scotland College. It provides industry specific, competence-based training and assessment, and is acknowledged worldwide as a specialist training provider within the oil and gas industries in Process, Maintenance Engineering, Electrical and Hazardous Areas, Emergency Response, Marine and Health & Safety.
