West of Duddon Sands Seeks Skilled Local Workers for Its O&M Base (UK)

West of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm, a 50-50 joint venture between DONG Energy and ScottishPower Renewables, has launched its campaign to recruit thirty skilled local workers for its operations and maintenance (O&M) team in Barrow-in-Furness.

Work is now underway on a state-of-the-art Operations and Maintenance facility in Barrow, which will act as the base for engineers working on the project for at least the next 25 years. The £4 million development is due to be completed by November 2103.

Applications for the thirty new full time positions at the West of Duddon Sands wind farm, based at the brand new facility that will be constructed in Barrow, are open now and can be completed and submitted online.

Thirty new full time positions are available covering five different roles at West of Duddon Sands wind farm; Head of Operations, Assistant Operations Manager, Site Assistant, Wind Turbine Technician and High Voltage Engineer.

Benj Sykes, UK Country Manager for DONG Energy’s Wind business said:

“We are already a big employer in Barrow, having created more than 75 full time jobs here over the last six years. Building our third O&M base in the town, after those for Barrow and Walney Offshore Wind Farms, is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to the area, and our commitment to Barrow’s Energy Hub.”

“We are constructing the West of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm with our partners ScottishPower Renewables over the next two years, and when complete, this base will provide 24 hour, 365 days-a-year monitoring, with easy access to the wind farm from the moorings next to the O&M building.”

Charlie Jordan, ScottishPower Renewables Project Director, said: “Barrow is a major hub for renewable energy developments in the North West, and we are delighted to be basing our operations and maintenance facilities here for the West of Duddon Sands project. These are highly skilled jobs that will help to support the local economy. The region has a strong engineering talent pool that we hope to be able to tap in to.”

DONG Energy has more than 20 years’ experience developing, constructing and operating wind farms across Northern Europe including Walney and Barrow offshore wind farms, and will operate the wind farm on behalf of the joint venture.

ScottishPower Renewables is one of the largest onshore wind power developers in the UK and is part of the Iberdrola Group, the largest wind power company in the world.

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Press release, January 23, 2013; Image: ScottishPower