A NORTH-EAST training company has taken steps to redress the dramatic gender imbalance in the offshore industry.

Only 3.6 per cent of the offshore workforce is female, according to industry studies, so AIS is celebrating after the first female on its offshore fireproofing course passed with flying colours.

Ellis Matthewson, aged 22 from Wallsend, has successfully completed AIS’s passive fire protection qualification (PFP), which is accredited by International Paints. Ms Matthewson has completed several other mandatory offshore training courses with AIS and now has a full raft of qualifications and skills to offer offshore employers.

She said: “I’d always dreamed of a military career but that dream ended when I suffered a back injury after just 12 months of starting my army job. I needed an alternative career – and fast. A family friend worked offshore so I knew what the life entailed and it was definitely something that appealed to me.

“I love travelling and I’m really practical and sporty. Plus there are a lot of synergies between offshore and military life as you’re often away from home for long periods with similar camaraderie.

“After a bit of research I decided to train in offshore fireproofing and painting and blasting to give me the best chance of employment. I saved like mad during my army rehabilitation so I had the money to pay for training courses and enrolled with AIS.

“I know the offshore sector is predominantly male but that doesn’t faze me at all. I’ve got lots of male friends and also believe a woman can do a job just as well as a man – in some ways better. Women tend to be more caring and empathetic and are much more team orientated. My ideal job would be working somewhere like Canada or Brazil in a painting and blasting role and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that AIS will help me to find it.”

Charlie Guthrie, marketing manager at AIS, said: “Unfortunately the offshore sector suffers from a massive gender imbalance and the industry - and AIS - is working hard to address this. As well as promoting our courses to women wherever possible, we have employed Laura Hudson to be the lead instructor at our new £2.5m survival centre in North Shields.

“There are numerous career opportunities available to anyone entering the global energy sector – regardless of gender – and it’s important to get this message across to young people looking for exciting and rewarding career paths. AIS is working with the region’s key educational establishments to raise awareness of the opportunities available and it’s great to see a female as enthusiastic and motivated as Ellis coming through our doors. "Hopefully her story will inspire others and we urge any woman wanting to find out more about how to get into the offshore sector to get in touch."