Engineering news
Shortages of engineers could compel oil giant BP to employ more graduates from overseas in the future, the company has said.
BP said it had been prioritising recruitment of graduates for a number of years. It is currently planning its intake of graduates from the next academic year, which would be at least 100 positions, said Suzy Style, the new head of graduate recruitment. “We are working out our numbers for the year ahead from September.”
Although the UK is still the prime hunting ground for new talent, she added: “We want to recruit the best talent available and that can come from different geographies. We are trying to make it easier to recruit from across the globe.”
Style said that BP wanted to make it easier for graduates from other countries to apply to the oil company, but that overseas students studying in British universities were also an important source of new recruits.
Mark Harper, former immigration minister, told a House of Lords committee late last year that the UK had failed to communicate “very good arrangements'” allowing international students to stay and work after completing their studies at British universities. International students can stay providing they can find a skilled job which pays at least £20,000 a year.
“We will need to think quite carefully about our strategy as the skills shortage pans out,” said Style. In common with other areas of industry, the oil and gas sector is experiencing significant skills shortages, with engineers in demand. Although the level of availability of mechanical engineers, compared to highly specialised roles such as naval architect, is relatively high, Jen Veevers, graduate marketing manager for BP in the UK, said. Style added: “There is a skills shortage. However, there are brilliant students out there and we need to make sure we engage with them. But it is very competitive and lots of industries want those people.”
The graduates go into science, engineering, and business and trading roles at the oil major. Veevers said there were examples of engineering graduates starting in business roles, where their analytical skills were in demand, and transferring back into engineering. “It is a handful, however,” said Veevers. More than 80% of interns at BP were joining the company full-time following graduation, she added.
Professor Matthew Harrison, director of education at the Royal Academy of Engineering, said last year that borders would need to be open to an influx of foreign engineers to help rebalance the economy. Among professions on the immigration 'National Shortage Occupation List' are mechanical engineers in aerospace; electrical engineers in oil and gas; geotechnical design engineers; geologists; and petroleum engineers.
Immigration is the central issue ahead of the forthcoming European elections on 22 May.