Niall Gibb

Niall Gibb (38) from Edinburgh, completed the six-week Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician Cross-Skill pilot programme, at Forth Valley College’s Falkirk Campus in May 2025. 

It provided the recognised bridge for Niall from working 12 years in offshore oil and gas to offshore wind. He is now an Offshore Service Lead with GE Vernova on Dogger Bank, managing the day-to-day service and maintenance operation from a service operation vessel and coordinating around 60 technicians.

Niall, said: “Before moving into wind, I worked for Bilfinger UK as a Senior Authorised HV Electrical Maintenance Technician on CNR's Ninian South oil-producing platform in the North Sea. I had spent 12 years in offshore oil and gas, working in safety-critical maintenance and operational roles.

“My responsibilities included electrical maintenance and fault-finding, HV switching and isolation, safe systems of work, permits and the safe return of plant to service. That experience gave me strong technical judgement, a mature safety culture and a clear understanding of what is required to work safely and effectively on a 14-day, 12 hour shift offshore rotation.

“I completed the six-week ECITB Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician Cross-Skill Pilot Programme at Forth Valley College in May 2025. The programme was developed by the ECITB in partnership with Global Wind Organisation and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, and it was aligned to Level 3 / SCQF 6, this is the level that most modern technical apprenticeships are completed to.

“As a qualified electrical technician, I was cross-skilled in mechanical and instrumentation and control activities, including hydraulics, pumps, mechanical joints, flow measurement, control valves and small-bore tubing. It also included wind turbine safety rules, GWO Basic Technical Training, Slinger Signaller, enhanced first aid, working at height, manual handling, fire awareness and sea survival. Further learning covered wind-industry awareness, SCADA, HV switchgear and condition monitoring, followed by practical turbine familiarisation at ORE Catapult's Levenmouth demonstration turbine.

“The programme was the catalyst for my move into offshore wind. It took the competence I had developed in oil and gas and placed it within a recognised wind-industry framework. This gave employers confidence in my offshore experience and technical foundation while addressing the genuine gaps in turbine systems, wind-specific safety and multi-skilled maintenance.

“GE Vernova had been in contact with the ECITB before the pilot and recognised it as a credible transition route. After completing the programme, I secured a role as Lead Electrical Commissioning Technician on Dogger Bank. I then progressed through a commissioning supervisory role and into operational leadership. In little more than a year, I moved from being new to wind to managing offshore service delivery on the world's largest offshore wind farm.

“I now work for GE Vernova as Offshore Service Lead on Dogger Bank, the world's largest offshore wind farm. Based onboard the service operation vessel, I manage and direct the day-to-day service and maintenance operation and coordinate a workforce of around 60 technicians.

“I am responsible for turning the maintenance plan into safe, deliverable daily activity. This includes resource planning, turbine access, deployment priorities, coordination of authorised and competent technicians, liaison with the vessel, client and onshore support teams, toolbox talks, EHS follow-up and the resolution of operational issues that could affect delivery. The role brings together technical understanding, safety leadership and clear decision-making in a fast-moving offshore environment.

“The training and support from Forth Valley College was excellent and directly relevant to the transition we were trying to make. The programme respected the fact that we were already experienced, time-served technicians. It tested our current competence, built on it and focused on the knowledge and practical skills that were genuinely new.

“The balance of technical learning, hands-on activities, GWO training and turbine familiarisation made the course credible. The instructors created an environment where we could ask questions, challenge our existing thinking and learn from technicians from other disciplines. That was particularly valuable for me because it developed my mechanical and instrumentation and control understanding rather than keeping me within an electrical silo.

“Many experienced people are new to wind, but they are not new to engineering, offshore work or safety-critical operations. This programme makes that distinction. It recognises existing competence through ‘Connected Competence’ and adds targeted wind-specific technical and safety training without lowering standards or asking experienced technicians to repeat everything they already know.

“It gives employers clear evidence that a candidate has been properly assessed and has addressed the gaps required to work safely and effectively on a wind asset. My own career is strong evidence of what the route can achieve: the programme led directly to my first role in offshore wind and created the foundation for very rapid progression into operational leadership.

“The advice I would give to anyone thinking about doing this course would be having a proactive and approaching it with an open mind. Do not undersell the value of your existing experience, but do not assume that experience means there is nothing new to learn. Wind has different terminology, systems, safety rules and ways of working, and multi-skilling is central to many technician roles.

“I took unpaid leave to complete the pilot because I believed a credible route into wind was worth the investment. Engage fully with every discipline, ask questions and use the experience of the people around you. The course can create the opportunity, but you still need to show employers that you are adaptable, willing to learn and ready to apply your experience in a different environment. Do not wait for the industry to push you; take control of the next stage of your career.

“I received the Personal Improvement Award at the Scottish Renewables' 2026 Young Professionals Green Energy Awards. It was not linked to a single project. It recognised the scale and pace of my development after moving into wind, together with the work I have done to support clearer routes for other experienced technicians.

“Since completing the Forth Valley College ECITB course in May 2025, I have progressed from Lead Electrical Commissioning Technician to Offshore Commissioning Supervisor and then Offshore Service Lead, with responsibility for major service operations on Dogger Bank. Alongside my operational role, I joined the ECITB Innov8 Board and became an established advocate for practical pathways into the renewables workforce.

“I have also been invited to speak at the UK Parliament, at two Scottish Renewables engagements and at Floating Offshore Wind 2026, sharing what workforce transition looks like in practice with MPs, members of the House of Lords and industry leaders. I have also supported ECITB's Connected Competence work to promote credible routes into technical renewable-energy careers.

“I am extremely proud of the recognition because it validates both the decision to change industries and the work I have put into developing quickly since making the move. It also reflects the support I received from the ECITB, Forth Valley College, my mentors, colleagues and the people who gave me opportunities within the wind industry.

“The award has given greater credibility to the message I care about most: experienced technicians can make a successful transition when existing competence is recognised and genuine skills gaps are addressed properly. The course changed the direction of my career, and I now have an opportunity through Innov8, public speaking and my operational role to help make that pathway clearer for others.”

Niall is pictured here at the awards with his GE Vernova colleague Thomas Bradley who is Site Operations Manager of Doggerbank, and also on his control vessel while offshore.