Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/721218
SEPTEMBER 2016 WET NEWS 9 "About 12% of our workforce are either apprentices or under-graduates. That's a massive number – but it's not enough!" youngsters but some older people coming and wanting to start learning virtual engineering." But it is not just about targeting college and secondary students, he says. A lot of children tend to decide what they want to be at about nine or ten years' old, and as they consider what subjects to take at secondary school. And Hanrahan warns: "Because of all those other drivers we're moving from traditional design and construction onsite and we're moving more to offsite build asset optimisation. The skillsets that are required for that, we're already struggling as the water sector to find those people. Over the next few years we're probably going to see a tenfold increase in demand for those skillsets." The reality is that if the required skillsets are not met than "offsite build just won't happen". Hanrahan continues: "It's not as though all the design services can be done in India or America. You physically need people on the ground in the locality, to go and investigate equipment, identify problems, report back, and then do the work that is required. That's physical work onsite for asset refurbishment or upgrade." He is concerned by the impact that reduced capacity has had on UK manufacturing and refurbishment over the past 20 years or so, and that "demand is going to spike and we just don't have the capacity". He says: "What will happen is the efficiency challenges that Ofwat are wanting… The water companies are just going to start failing against those. It's a big challenge for the entire water sector in that some of the clients we're talking to are saying 'can you build this in your factory?'. They can see the significant savings, it reduces health and safety risk, it's got increased reliability, less impact on the environment and their customer base. It ticks all the boxes." A twofold situation emerges where there is asset optimisation in terms of engineers and technicians, and teams that can strip down equipment, analyse it and then do the upgrade to get increased life; and then there is the drive for offsite build in a factory which is all about assembly production personnel. Hanrahan concludes: "Everyone says 'yes, there's a skills shortage blah, blah, blah'. But people just talk about it – we now need action. If we can get people really thinking about the skills shortage specifically to the water sector, and how we make the water sector appealing to young people, then fantastic." n Mark Hanrahan will be discussing innovating within capital delivery partnerships at our Water Industry Supplier conference in Birmingham on November 10, 2016. events.wwtonline.co.uk/supplier Facing a blower breakdown? Relax. We can have a value-added replacement on its way in 36 hours. Cut your energy bills by up to 50%. Reduce your plant's noise emissions. And best of all the turbocompressor HST will not wear mechanically. So it will provide trouble-free operation for years to come. Order now and you can have a replacement compressor on its way in 36 hours; start saving up to 50% energy. Visit sulzer.com/36hours. * Applicable for selected versions of turbocompressor type ABS HST20 and HST 2500, which are ready to be dispatched from our factory in less than 36 hours (on weekdays). A blower or compressor breakdown puts your wastewater treatment plant's operation at risk. Now, with our fast-track pro- cess, when you order today we can ship you a turbocompres- sor to replace your failed unit within 36 hours*. Available in sizes suitable for most treatment plants, the turbo- compressor HST will save your process, and save you signifi- cant amounts of energy. But why wait for your blower or compressor to fail? Replace your old machine with a brand new turbocompressor HST and start reaping benefits today.