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Business Secretary Vince Cable welcomes Sparrows investment in skills

Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, UK Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, visited Sparrows Group in Aberdeen on Thursday 1st September, and congratulated the company on its sustained investment in skills development through its graduate development, apprenticeship and vocational qualification schemes.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Supply chain companies like Sparrows play a vital role in growing the British economy. I was especially interested in hearing about the company’s apprentice programme: it’s vital that we work with industry to help young people realise the excellent opportunities available to them through a career in engineering.

Sparrows, the Aberdeen-based world leader in offshore lifting engineering and mechanical handling services, has 1067 UK staff, more than 20% of whom are engaged in formal training an development programmes. The company employees 36 graduate trainees (mostly engineers), 15 engineering apprentices, 6 draughting apprentices and over 150 offshore technicians working towards externally awarded vocational qualifications (VQs). Sparrows also sponsors 5 undergraduate engineering students through full time courses of study at Aberdeen's two universities.

Doug Sedge, CEO of Sparrows, says: “Investing in skills has been central to Sparrows success since we were established in 1974. The people we are training today will be the backbone of our business in future years – indeed many of our current senior management joined us as graduate trainees straight from university. We are committed to recruiting, developing and retaining talent in Sparrows workforce.

Mr Sedge introduced Dr Cable to a number of Sparrows apprentices and trainees during his visit, including Bruce McLean (20) of Peterhead who, just last month, completed his hydraulic engineering apprenticeship at Sparrows, including day release study at Banff and Buchan College.