Your apprenticeship is designed to set you up for success:
1st Year – a mix of practical skills and theory – approx. 40:60 split
2nd Year – A balanced focus on practical skills and discipline-specific theory, with an approximate 50:50 split:
Years 3 & 4:
More sporting activities:
Accommodation: You’ll stay at the Park Hotel, which offers laundry services (£10 per bag), Wi-Fi and on-site dining. Rooms are cleaned daily.
Hotel Meals: Breakfast and dinner are provided. For lunch, there are local options like Lidl, Greggs, and Tesco nearby.
Transport: The college is a 7-minute drive or 30-minute walk from the hotel. Many apprentices carpool, so don’t hesitate to ask for a lift!
You will be paid monthly.
Ponticelli Employee’s Pay Day: 26th of the Month
Semco Employee’s Pay Day: Last day of the month
*Payslips will be issued to your personal email account and will be accessible with individual password
See links to your employing company’ expenses forms below;
PBS aims to encourage all its employees to maximise their attendance at work while recognising that employees will, from time to time, be unable to come to work for periods of time due to sickness or absence.
Starting a new chapter can feel both exciting and overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created a space to share the voices of those who have been in your shoes. Our current and former apprentices share their experiences, challenges, and achievements during their journey with PBS.
Whether you're navigating your first day at college or preparing for your first offshore rotation, these testimonials offer advice and inspiration to help you make the most of your apprenticeship.
Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll be supported by a network of people ready to guide you:
Charlene Bissett: Apprenticeship Officer
📞 01324 403328
📧 charlene.bissett@forthvalley.ac.uk
📞 01224 013100
Ponticelli HR Email:
📧 hrponticelliuk@pbs-offshore.com
Semco HR Email:
If you’re feeling unwell or need advice, don’t hesitate to reach out.
No, your PPE will be provided at the PBS Induction and delivered to your home if unavailable at the time.
Holidays outside of scheduled dates are not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances.
You’ll be advised on registering with a local GP during your induction. Falkirk also has several dental practices available.
Upon arrival at the heliport at the designated check-in time, a screen will display the check-in desk assigned to you. Bags will be weighed, inspected, and checked in. Passengers will be asked to verify that their Vantage details (e.g., name, address, etc.) are correct. Note: For first-time travelers, it is necessary to arrive earlier than the check-in time to collect a Vantage card.
After check-in, proceed to the departure lounge, where a helicopter safety briefing video will be shown. Survival suits and life jackets will be issued at this point. Once the flight is ready, all passengers will be escorted to the helicopter by a member of the heliport staff.
Bristows Heliport Specific Layout Information: Upon entering the terminal, you’ll find the main passenger lounge with check-in desks on the right. If entering through the Rotary Lounge, the check-in desk is situated in the middle of the terminal.
A digital display above the desks will direct you to the correct counter, and flights will be announced when check-in opens. After checking in and completing bag screening, you will wait in one of three lounge areas:
Hot and cold food is available in the Main Terminal and Rotary Lounge. Free Wi-Fi is provided, and a pool table is available in the Rotary Lounge.
The survival suit will typically be issued to you at the heliport, usually in the area where the safety briefing video is shown.
In Bristows heliport: Survival suits will be issued by Survitec, who have a team on site, they will assist with any issues or questions you have about your survival suit and lifejackets.
Once you arrive at Heli-Admin, you will be assigned a cabin number and issued a lifeboat number and muster point. An induction will be carried out, followed by a tour of the asset.
Check-ins are typically issued the day before the mobilisation date, usually around 13:00. This timing allows the PBS Logistics team to wait for confirmation of check-in times from the TotalEnergies aviation team. Once the times are confirmed, we will send the Check-in time via email. Additionally, TotalEnergies will issue the check-in time directly to you.
If required, the logistics team can provide a rough estimate of the check-in time in advance. This helps personnel decide whether to travel the day before. However, please note that these preliminary times are subject to change.
This webpage is here to guide you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your contacts at Forth Valley College or the PBS team.
Welcome to the PBS Apprenticeship Programme – we’re excited to have you on board!
