Global Switchgear Services highlights industry skills shortage

A landlocked electrical engineering company is celebrating a series of contracts at sea but its bosses are struggling to find the next generation of talent to take over the tiller.

Global Switchgear Services, Rochdale, has won new work off Aberdeen, Sicily and Singapore worth a total of £350,000.

The Aberdeen contract involves testing the propulsion systems of oil rig support vessels in the North Sea to ensure that they comply with new safety legislation.

Work in Palermo, Sicily, will see GSS assist in upgrading the new ship operated by the SAGA travel company.

However, while the company is succeeding in securing new contracts, its founders – all aged around 60 – said they were concerned about a skills shortage in their industry.