Stefan Buitendijk

"Lots of opportunities. I had no idea...”

After finishing secondary school, and given the choice between university and the vocational route, Steven opted for the latter and joined Heerema Hartlepool as an apprentice welder. He successfully completed an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship and worked as a multi-coded welder.

His outstanding performance during apprenticeship earned him the opportunity to progress into the quality control department and become a certified welding inspector.
 In this responsibility he worked on high-value projects.

Steven then completed a comprehensive industry-based traineeship in welding engineering, covering structural steelwork, process piping, and subsea riser piping. During this traineeship, he also studied part-time at the University of Teesside and achieved a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering with First Class Honours!

Steven is now the lead welding engineer at Heerema Hartlepool, responsible for all welding engineering during the construction of large, high-value, complex steel structures for the offshore energy industries. He recently completed an MSc research project and thesis on the “North Sea Decommissioning of Redundant Oil & Gas Infrastructure”, an essential economic and environmental issue faced by the offshore industry.

“At Heerema, when you work hard and do a good job, there are lots of opportunities to progress and develop. I had no idea when I was a first-year apprentice welder, that I would go on to become a welding engineer. I made the most of the opportunities that came my way and Heerema has given me the best of support. Time off to study, tuition fees paid for, and all the guidance and advice I could wish for from established engineers and staff members.”