Engineers in demand, but they're hard to find

Feb 25 2009 by Graeme King, The Journal

A spokesman for Allseas said: “Around 200 people within Allseas and in various design companies in Europe, mainly in the Netherlands, are working on the design of Pieter Schelte.

“This number will be increased soon when the detail design contract will be awarded. But the design company for this has not yet been selected, so it cannot yet be said in which country the detail design will take place.

“If Mr Kroese could find suitably qualified and experienced staff, Allseas would award Swan Hunter more work, so that he could employ more people in Newcastle.”

Tony Trapp, managing director of IHC Engineering Business in Riding Mill, which works on high-profile offshore engineering projects, agreed that it was difficult to recruit top quality engineers for work on Tyneside.

He said: “A shortage of quality people is still a persistent problem for us.

“We are after a few people here. We are after quality and we still have openings for talent – design engineers, production people.

“We currently have around 180 or 185 staff, mainly professional engineers. If we could get the right quality, I would probably hire 10 staff tomorrow, probably more.”

“I’m trying to blow a trumpet for the North East all over the place. We have got to somehow keep the talent here, to make it clear this is an attractive place to be.”