Isaac Barbour - Former Electrical Maintenance Apprentice

In this Q&A, former Electrical Maintenance Apprentice, Isaac Barbour, reflects on his time with APTUS and shares how his career has progressed since completing his apprenticeship.

When did you complete the APTUS (previously known as OGTAP) apprenticeship programme and what discipline did you study? 2016 - Electrical Maintenace

Why did you originally choose to apply for an apprenticeship programme and specifically, why did you choose APTUS? I chose to leave school after 4th year, as although I attained good grades, I felt ready to start 'working' in some capacity. I assessed my options with regards to several apprenticeships, but felt the OGTAP apprenticeship (now known as APTUS) would be the best fit for me, providing a gateway into the oil and gas industry. Being from the North East of Scotland, a large portion of the people I knew were working in the oil and gas industry and it felt like the greatest option to provide flexibility and credible career opportunities. There were also several other younger people who were already going through the apprenticeship from my school, and it was highlighted as a great opportunity to learn new knowledge and skills, attain strong qualifications, whilst also earning money at the same time. 

What achievement during your apprenticeship had the biggest impact on your development? During the college phase of my apprenticeship, I was selected by my lecturers as the Electrical Apprentice of the Year. I was the youngest in my entire year, so this gave me a lot of confidence to know that I was doing a good job, and it was being acknowledged. Once on my worksite placement offshore, I was able to complete my 'Competent Electrical Person' assessment achieving CEP status, which would allow me to isolate and work on electrical equipment unsupervised. This had a strong impact on my development, allowing my confidence to grow as I worked on, problem solved, and repaired faults on my own. 

How has your career progressed since completing the APTUS programme? Once I had completed my Electrical Maintenance training I would progress in to the Operations Team and complete several Area Accountable competencies. Whilst in Operations, I maintained a strong connection with the Electrical discipline, attaining Authorised Electrical Person (AEP) status, allowing me to isolate and work on High Voltage (HV) equipment. With the Operations and Maintenance experience I had so far, I was able to complete an office secondment as a Turnaround (TAR) Focal Point in 2020. With having a dual role background, during a company Operating Model restructure, I was selected to be one of the multi-disciplined Operations & Maintenance Technicians working under the Electrical Supervisor. During this period I would deputise as the supervisor during absence and would attain my Senior Authorised Electrical Person (SAEP) status, allowing me to become the platform Responsible Person Electrical (RPE), taking ownership and accountability of all electrical work on the facility. Following strong performance as the O&M Tech / RPE, I was selected to complete an office secondment as the Project Manager for the major gas turbine generator control system upgrade scope. Whilst performing this role, I would also be based in the Instrument, Control & Electrical (ICE) team, learning additional knowledge and skills as an Electrical Engineer. Once the project scope was successfully complete, I returned offshore and would perform the role of Shift Supervisor Instrument & Electrical (SSIE) for several years. In this position I would manage and supervise the Instrument and Electrical Maintenance Contract Technicians as well as the company O&M Technicians. Due to strong performance as the SSIE, I was selected to perform the role of 5th week Installation Engineer (IE), which would support the OIM in the Offshore Leadership team, managing the Engineering, Inspection, Fabric Maintenance and Services teams. After a year of performing the IE role, I would then further develop into the other offshore leadership role supporting the OIM as the Operations & Reliability Coordinator (ORC), who would manage the Electrical, Instrument and Mechanical Maintenance Teams, as well as the Operations Team on the facility. After performing these supervisory and management roles for several years, I gained promotion to a Maintenance Supervisor position where I would continue to be the 5th week SSIE and 5th week ORC. 

Looking back on your career since APTUS, what stands out as a moment of success or achievement? Due to my sustained high performance, I was selected to completed the Shell Technician & Operator Professional Programme (TOPP) to further develop Maintenance, Reliability & Turnaround (MRTA) knowledge and skills. This was viewed as an internal company equivalent to a degree, and was seen as a pathway for progression to a supervisor role. Whilst working, I have also continued my own further education development by completing a HND and also now a BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I received an 'A' grade for my HND and also received a Distinction and the University Class Award for the best academic performance, achieving the highest award mark in my university class. 

What skills have you learnt/taken away from the APTUS programme that help you/you use on a regular basis in your career now? The list is endless... However, on a high level, the programme allowed me to learn hands-on skills, using all kinds of hand tools and test equipment to problem solve and fix faults. I have also learned several computer based skills, becoming extremely efficient in writing and using PC software. The programme also enables you to gain confidence in certain soft skills, dealing with all kinds of people from different demographics, learning how to build strong relationships. 

If you could speak with someone considering the APTUS programme, what would you say to them to encourage them to apply? I would say that the programme is a great opportunity as a gateway into the energy industry, where you can learn hands on practical skills but also continue your academic learning. For me, it is the best of both worlds when comparing with going straight into University where you do not get the same level of practical training. 

Do you have any advice for the apprentices currently completing the programme? As the energy industry continues to evolve and transition, the roles available are also changing. With that said, the knowledge and skills you will have learned will enable you to work in any technical, engineering or energy industry, so the apprenticeship really can set you up for life for several different pathways. This programme is a fantastic opportunity to grow and develop, whilst opening several doors for career progression and development!