Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2017 – OGTAP Sophie Ewen

Company

7th March 2017

It’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2017, and each day we are hearing from young people who involved in the Oil and Gas Technical Apprenticeship Programme (OGTAP).

Managed by the oil and gas industry skills organisation OPITO and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), the programme is open to those looking to become apprentices in one of four areas: electrical maintenance, mechanical maintenance, process operations, and instrumentation and control maintenance

Sophie Ewen, 20, from Cullen in Moray is a first-year OGTAP apprentice.

“My dad has worked in the oil and gas sector for 25 years and I’d always wanted to follow in his footsteps. I enjoyed science and maths at school so it seemed a natural progression to take an HNC in electrical engineering and control and measurement at Fraserburgh College.

“From there, I applied for a place on OGTAP. I have friends in Buckie who have successfully progressed through the programme and are now in good jobs with clear career prospects as the programme is held in such high regard.

“The first half of the apprenticeship is spent at college to help prepare us for the second two years working under the guidance of a sponsoring company.

“Learning the theory can be challenging as there are mini-assessments throughout the term, but with the practical work running alongside it, it does make it easier to understand.

“Getting used to living away from home has also been a learning experience, especially having to look after my own washing!”

For more information on OGTAP visit http://ogtap.co.uk/

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