Hello, I've completed my NEBOSH GC, along with oil and gas and fire but awaiting on results for them, I'm now currently studying my NCRQ Diploma in Applied Health and Safety. I was just wondering if anyone can advice on the best places to look for offshore/GWO work, i would be willing to relocate anywhere.

Jamie beware of the lure of big bucks! I work in Aberdeen, and did a stint in the oil and gas industry, it's no different from any other industry, just the money is a little bit better, but the sector is extremely volatile in general. It's also common for some employers to dictate that you must get yourself to the heliport, so once every month or six weeks, you'll need to get yourself, more than likely, to Aberdeen airport. (i've heard this is becoming more common in recent times, though it does depend on the employer) If you want a decent wage and really fancy moving to Aberdeen, most of the jobs in any sector in Aberdeen pay above national averages to compete with the oil and gas companies, but be aware that the cost of living here is considerably higher too. More importantly, there are lots of Health and Safety people with a lot of oil industry experience sitting at home right now. I'd advise you to get your BOSIET and MIST, as a minimum, you'd need it to go offshore, and employers can see that you are serious about wanting to enter the sector

I would advise you to start in a related industry as o&g is not a good way to go just now. Many of my friends have been paid off, over a 100 of support vessels in the north see are berthed at the moment and only generate losses. I meet a lot of vessel crews and every single company is cutting costs tremendously now. The perspectives for the next 2 years are grim. Why don't you land yourself a "safer" job in construction or some other exciting heavy industry (maybe renewable?)? I'm speaking from a perspective of someone who worked in o&g in Aberdeen for a couple of years, holds NEBOSH NGC, BOSIET, MIST etc. neither papers nor experience in the industry helped me to get a job offshore although I tried really hard. Good luck whatever you choose to do.

As mentioned previously, your chances of getting work offshore are very slim. I work in HSEQ in oil & gas and know of many experienced people who have been made redundant and are actively seeking anything they can get. The situation isn't looking good at all in the short to medium term. How long will this last - nobody knows for sure but hopefully there is some light at the end of the tunnel. I agree with imponderabilius and you should maybe look to other industries at this time. If your determined to get into the offshore industry then maybe try looking for a position onshore and gain some experience that way. Many H&S people offshore either started this way or worked in core crews and made the jump to H&S after gaining operational experience. Best of luck to you and i hope you get something.