TNEI beats skills shortage by recruiting 8 new Power Systems Specialists

 

To cater for this growing demand, energy consultancy TNEI Services has expanded its power systems analysis Group recruiting eight new members of staff since January 09. The Group, already believed to be the UK’s largest specialist power systems analysis resource, has taken its number to 27 and is still on the recruitment trail.

 

Based predominately in the company’s Manchester office, TNEI’s Power Systems Group works on some of the most complex and detailed analytical modelling of all types of renewable generation technologies in marine, wave and wind.

 

The team applies its technical design services to all aspects of power generation and distribution and works with both conventional and renewable energy developers to ensure that their schemes are designed and constructed properly for connection to the grid.

 

The work is predominately desk based mathematical modelling, analysis and simulation requiring a skill set that is in short supply within the industry.

 

Commenting on the recent appointments, TNEI’s Technical Director, Dr. Graeme Bathurst explained: “Historically, one of the problems facing the industry has been the lack of experienced, or suitable candidates in this sector. This year, the plan had been to appoint 5 new recruits for TNEI’s Power Systems and Technology Group, but we have had an unusually high number of applications from exceptional candidates who have knowledge and experience to bring to the team.”

 

“We are still on the look out for experienced power systems candidates and expect to make further appointments as the year progresses.”

 

Commenting on the market conditions and industry-wide skills shortage, Graeme Bathurst said:

“After the power industries were privatised in the ‘90s there has been significant underinvestment in graduate training. This has resulted in a serious shortage of experienced power systems candidates, a problem that is starting to hold back the industry.”

 

TNEI is tackling this problem head on and is actively involved with various universities working with power systems research, post-graduates and undergraduates. A post-doctoral Research Associate, two MSc Students and two under-graduate Students are currently on work placement at TNEI, and will continue to receive support from the team when they return to their studies. Graeme Bathurst has also recently been appointed an honorary position as a senior visiting lecturer with the EEPS group at Manchester University.

 

Among the new PST recruits at TNEI are three principal consultants, two senior consultants and three technical consultants. All will be based in Manchester.