At STR, we recognise that investing in our people is key to not only our success, but also vital for shaping the next generation of engineers. With this in mind, the STR Academy was established to foster career growth and professional development within our team, demonstrating our commitment to nurturing talent.
Providing a clear path for progression, the competency programme that equips our technical team with the industry skills required to advance in their career. Through this programme, we aim to provide our team with the knowledge and support required to reach their full potential.
Here, we’ve highlighted the journeys of four STR employees who have taken part in the STR Academy, showcasing how the programme has been instrumental in their career development…
Finlay Cook, Technical Operations Supervisor, Houston
What inspired you to choose a career in engineering?
“I’ve always been curious by nature and enjoy understanding how the things around me work, which was the reason why I studied mechatronics after school. After completing my studies, I was keen to secure a job that could provide me with a technical knowledge of the energy industry as well as hands-on work offshore, which is why STR immediately stood out.”
How has STR supported your skill development and career progression?
“I first joined in 2018 as a Base & Offshore Engineer in Aberdeen, which was also my introduction to full-time employment within the industry. I strongly believe that the foundation of your career can shape future opportunities, and thanks to STR supporting my career development, I am now the Technical Operations Supervisor at the Houston base.
"The company has grown exponentially since I joined six years ago and has remained committed to nurturing talent and developing the future workforce; the STR Academy being a key asset to our team's development!”
What opportunities has STR provided for expanding your knowledge of the energy and marine industries?
“It’s provided me with first-hand experience of operations that occur in the marine and energy industry. I’ve had the opportunity to work across a variety of work scopes, including offshore wind farms, offshore construction projects and geophysical survey projects for installing subsea power cables. The company has a diverse customer pool which has also allowed me to gain valuable knowledge of what is happening in the industry and STR’s overall impact in various projects.”
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in engineering?
“For those aspiring to be an engineer, I believe that working with a company, such as STR, that supports your growth and development is crucial for kickstarting your career. Having a helping hand during the initial stages of your career is so important, and you can learn a great deal from working with experienced, knowledgeable and hard-working colleagues.”
James Whyte, Group Survey Technician, Aberdeen
What inspired you to choose a career in engineering?
“I’ve always had an interest in electronics and engineering, which developed throughout my time at secondary school. This encouraged me to study an HND in Electrical Engineering in the hope of pursuing a career within the industry.”
How has STR supported your skill development and career progression?
“STR has supported me from the moment I joined the team as a Base and Offshore Engineer in 2021. At the time, I was studying at college, as well as gaining industry experience within the STR workshop and mobilising vessels offshore. Receiving support from the STR team throughout my studies helped me to achieve my qualification and developed my knowledge of offshore engineering and processes.
“I have since been promoted to Group Survey Technician and I’m thoroughly looking forward to continuing my career with STR and seeing what the future holds!”
What opportunities has STR provided for expanding your knowledge of the energy and marine industries?
“It has an excellent mentoring structure in place, which has expanded my knowledge of the energy and marine science markets and enhanced my capabilities as an engineer.
“Extensive training with manufacturers has also been provided, which has helped me gain a better understanding of the subsea equipment that we provide and how we can support our customers with their offshore projects.”
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in engineering?
“I would recommend going into further education and attaining a qualification within the engineering discipline you’re most interested in. As well as this, gaining hands-on industry experience is excellent for developing your skill set and learning on the job.”
Jamie Forsyth, Survey Technician, Perth
What inspired you to choose a career in engineering?
“I’ve had an interest in the offshore industry for as long as I can remember, particularly subsea engineering, and I was curious as to how different subsea equipment worked for their specific purpose.”
How has STR supported your skill development and career progression?
“The STR Academy competency programme in particular has been brilliant for my training and development, and the skills I have gained over the last five years will be integral for my next role within the company. As I’ve now completed the required elements for Survey Technician Grade 1, I’m working towards the next step in my career which is becoming a Survey Engineer."
What opportunities has STR provided for expanding your knowledge of the energy and marine industries?
“STR has provided me with incredible opportunities to grow and excel within the industry, as well as work with a variety of diverse subsea survey equipment.
“Being able to test and maintain this wide range of equipment in our rental pool - as well as mobilising, troubleshooting, and maintaining equipment offshore - has given me great exposure to both sides of the workshop. and various offshore elements within the industry.”
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in engineering?
“The best advice I could give is to keep an open mind. Versatility and flexibility are great traits to have for learning and developing in this industry!”
Nicolas Lopez, Survey Technician, Houston
What inspired you to choose a career in engineering?
“I've always been fascinated by how certain objects work. As a child, I enjoyed taking gadgets apart to understand how they functioned - even if I couldn't always put them back together!”
How has STR Academy supported your skill development and career progression?
“The structured support system that STR Academy provides has been instrumental in keeping me on track with my current skills, while also helping me to develop new ones. I'm grateful that it provides a tangible way to monitor my career progression and enhance my industry knowledge and skills.”
What opportunities has STR provided for expanding your knowledge of the energy and marine industries?
“STR offers a wealth of knowledge within the organisation, which has been incredibly valuable. Additionally, I've had the opportunity to attend various external training sessions and lectures, which have broadened my understanding of our evolving industry.”
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in engineering?
“To jump in headfirst and don’t be afraid to ask questions - someone will always be willing to help when you need it!”
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