ExxonMobil Fife kickstarts apprenticeship scheme in a bid to find region's future talent

Appealing to local school leavers with a passion for science and mathematics, the four-year training programme, in partnership with Forth Valley College, is seeking talented individuals to join ExxonMobil’s experienced maintenance team.

Opportunities are offered in three disciplines: Machinery which focuses on mechanical repair, fault diagnosis, and preventative maintenance of specialised equipment; Instrumentation, responsible for maintaining critical shutdown systems, instrumentation, and control systems; and Analyser dedicated to managing maintenance regimes and complex continuous analysis equipment.

A team of over 500 personnel work at the Fife plant, and form a “close-knit community”. Apprentices benefit from a nurturing atmosphere, receiving personalised, one-on-one training while the 133-acre site's dynamic environment provides many opportunities for hands-on learning alongside highly experienced professionals.

The popular apprenticeship opens the way to qualifications including a Modern Apprenticeship, SVQ Level 3, National Certificates, and Higher National Certificates in chosen disciplines.

Reflecting on her own time as a first year apprentice, 16-year-old Hannah Pirie said: “My experience so far, both in the classroom and on-site, has been incredibly rewarding, giving me a great understanding of my future role as I move into the next phase of my apprenticeship.

“Being an apprentice allows me to apply learning to real-life situations, such as the control valve demonstration I led during ExxonMobil Fife's 'bring your child to work' day. It was a proud moment, hopefully inspiring other women and educating about some of the critical safety equipment we use on site.”

Candidates must be at least 16 years old and are required to have, or be expected to obtain, a minimum of four National 5 qualifications at grade C or higher. These must include English, Maths, and Physics or Chemistry, in addition to a technical subject like Graphic Communication or Engineering Science.

Kyle Aldridge, Fife Ethylene Maintenance Manager, said: “We are extremely proud of our apprenticeship scheme which has provided the foundations for over a quarter of our team who have gone on to have very successful careers here at Fife Ethylene Plant and even with ExxonMobil around the world.”

To apply, or for more information, visit jobs.exxonmobil.com and search for ‘Fife’.