
Working offshore can offer an attractive lifestyle. Whilst it often involves long hours, workers in this field have a generous amount of time off. Typical shift patterns consist of two/three weeks on, then two/three weeks off.
Across UK shores and international seas, there is an increasing number of wind farms under construction, which means there are plenty of opportunities to work offshore in the wind industry. The world’s largest offshore wind farm, Hornsea One, is based in the UK, 75 miles off the coast of Yorkshire. If you are looking for something further afield, there are plenty of opportunities to work abroad too, with offshore farms based in the Netherlands, Germany, China and beyond.
An ideal career for an adventurous individual, offshore wind farms are often situated in notoriously choppy waters to ensure maximum wind generation – so workers need to prepare for challenging yet rewarding work.
Job roles for Working Offshore in the Wind Industry
There are several different avenues that individuals can pursue in this industry. Below are some examples of jobs that you may want to consider.
Offshore Service Technician
Service Technicians are responsible for the day-to-day running of the wind farm. Based out at sea, someone in this profession would spend their days providing first-line operation and maintenance for the turbines. A trainee in this role could expect to earn around £18,000 – £21,000 a year, and an experienced Offshore Service Technician could expect to earn £27,000 on average.
Blade Technician
Someone working in this role could either be employed by the turbine manufacturer or by contracting companies who visit sites all over the country to repair blade damage. Blade Technicians typically work on ropes or elevated platforms. Technicians are specifically trained engineers that are responsible for the maintenance and repair of wind turbine blades. The average salary for a Blade Technician is £27,000.
Pre-assembly Technician
Pre-assembly Technicians are embedded in a specialist project team based on land and offshore. Primary duties include the assembly of tower sections, installation, and termination of cables inside the tower, preparing control systems for the offshore installation, and installing steelwork into tower sections. The average salary for this role is £34,000.
Major Component / Special Task Technician
This is a specialist role where the team is solely responsible for repairing or replacing major components on the turbine. For example, replacing a damaged blade, generator, or gearbox. These technicians often travel around for work and live out at sea during their shifts – but some companies may have their teams working on a rotation. The average salary for this position is £37,000.
For those who would like to explore this career in more depth and find out about the training required to progress into this field, get in touch today via our contact form or social media pages. CTS offer several courses that enable individuals to get a kickstart into the wind industry, both offshore and onshore. The solar industry is rapidly growing, and we are passionate about providing the essential training required to help this sector flourish.