Does anyone work in the wind power industry? I’ve been working as a vehicle tech for a large brand for around 10 years now and it’s high time I pulled my finger out and started to think about moving on….

Wind power is always something I’ve been interested in and I think my current skills would be transferable with a bit of hard work! Unfortunately I never went to uni so I haven’t got a degree level education only HNC.

Is there anyone out there in STW land working in the industry that would be willing to share their experiences or advice?

I’m currently looking at maintenance / technician jobs and altho the starting wage is low I’m keen to get out of the motor trade and this could be the ticket as it seems to me to be a growing industry with a good future!

Any advice will be appreciated, thanks.

Not working directly with the industry, but have an interest in it as I am a big fan.

CM, was that a wind up ?

😆

I was gonna make a wise crack, but CM’s easily tops my feeble effort, so I won’t bother. Superb, that one! 😆

You’re best bet will be finding out who are the Tier 1 sub-contractors that the likes of Vestas and Siemens use to actually build/install/operate the sites. You may even get lucky at someone like Garrad Hassan.

With limited direct experience, I think you’ll have to do your homework and pitch yourself at just the right role/company to get an ‘in’ and move up from there.

Best of luck!

I’m still going to make a wise crack because what the hell.

‘No, but my wife bloody well ought to the rate she pushes them out!’

I’ll get my divorce papers….

Not personally, but I have 2 friends, one who worked for GE in a consultancy role doing wind power, another who worked for a small wind turbine producer in Scotland and few years back, in a more hands on role.

I’m shooting the breeze with the first one this afternoon…

I have pinged a matey who works up the towers doing maintenance and that. He’s on here, but I’ve forgotten his username.

I do – Icon Energy in Fife – we install the ‘small’ Proven Turbines – depending on where you are, i would agree with bristol biker – get in touch with the subcntractors doing the work.

you could look at the MCS database of accredited wind turbine installers and the seperate list of manufacturers – that should give you some stating points of contact.

Good Luck

I work at SSE and there are some vacancies in the renewables area, although I’m not sure all would suit. Email me if you want details. All the positions are in Perth
david.goulson at ntlworld.com

Thanks for all the replies!

I was expecting better jokes tho, kinda disappointed 😉

Look at Rolls Royce…

Some SSE blurb here on the farm near me.

Its a good time to get into renewables especially if you are keen to work offshore. Hope you have a head for heights!

http://www.bwea.com/jobs/index.html

http://www.scottishrenewables.com/default.aspx?documentid=8909565e-f8a6-4633-a6a2-553ce4963bee

some tech jobs there right now even. work out the turbine companies in the uk and do a cv mailshot and you’ll probably do quite well, companies like wind prospect, Dulas etc are worth getting in touch with too.

Oh apparently these guys were crying out for hands on types last year, not sure about now though:

http://renewabledevices.com/

Thanks again for all the replies, they’re really appreciated!

Still at work unfortunately so not had a chance to check out any links yet, the bwea site was the one that started this little query tho.

Based in Carlisle. Heights don’t faze me at all as long as I’m tied on haha!

Thanks Superfli, I missed your reply first time round. I’ll email you when I get home.

I best get a start on my CV when I get home aswell!

In answer to your original question, Topangarider’s wife does, apparently.

MF – I work in the industry and we are recruiting at the moment. E-mail me on my forum name at hotmail.com and we can discuss some more details.

What are the odds?!

I’m currently in a similar position of having spent 23 years in a Maintenance/ Installation Engineering position, I’m also looking to transfer into renewables as it has a bright future (see what I did there :wink:)

And I’m currently studying civil engineering hoping for a similar move; wind turbines (foundations and access roads); marine civil engineering for tidal and wave power or off shore wind; coastal defences and harbour works; hydro power civil works and maintainance; or even forestry commission fire road construction and maintainance. Anything that earns me a decent wage in the highlands, not like when I last lived there 😥 😆

Good luck monkeyfudger……

Oh and if any industry types reading this are looking for an environmental GIS type person, let me know! 😉

I work in Renewables, and primarily largescale Wind.

feel free to email me if you want, and I’m happy to answer qs.

I currently work for a work for consultancy (sgurrenergy) but used to work for a developer (RES group), before that I worked for Jag Landrover, so, yes it definitely a doable change.

Loads of recruiting going on but it kinda depends, where you are happy to live, and technicians tend to move around a lot following the developments of sites.

also worth looking at courses at CAT as these can be a good starter.

agree with the comment on approaching the manufacturers, but also look at B9 who are a O&M contractor, WindHoist who are a turbine erection specialist.

Good luck

Andy

Andy I work for ERM – we have quite a bit to do with sgurr, small world!

Well, my CV is flying left, right and centre right now 🙂