Major offshore wind projects rely on teams of skilled tradespeople who can meet demanding schedules, strict safety standards and constantly shifting operational conditions. When two of Europe’s largest wind farm developments entered key phases, our client needed a recruitment partner capable of supplying a large, fully compliant workforce at pace - without disrupting the progress already underway.

People with Energy deployed 162 offshore contractors across both projects, supporting them with embedded on-site involvement, rigorous compliance management and coordinated mobilisation across multiple locations.

Project Snapshot

• Client: Offshore construction and O&M specialist operating across the UK and EU
• Projects: Hornsea 2 (OSS & RCS) and the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm
• Personnel Provided: 58 contractors for Hornsea 2, 104 for Sofia
• Support Areas: Recruitment, compliance, logistics coordination, PPE distribution, ongoing workforce management
• Locations Involved: Norwich, Humberside, Blyth and Den Helder
• Result: Both projects kept moving without staffing or compliance delays

About the Client

The company we supported is well known in the offshore wind world and tends to handle the tougher, more complex parts of major wind farm developments. Their projects depend on experienced tradespeople who can work safely offshore, sometimes in challenging conditions and always under tight timescales. They approached us because they needed help bringing in a sizable workforce in a way that didn’t interrupt their ongoing operations.

What Made the Work Challenging

When we joined the projects, both were already at busy phases. It wasn’t simply a case of finding contractors - it was about doing it in a way that fitted around several mobilisation points, strict documentation requirements, rotating offshore schedules and, in the case of Hornsea 2, the tail-end of COVID restrictions.

A few of the realities we had to manage:

• There were more than 150 offshore workers to secure, onboard and keep compliant.
• Mobilisation happened across multiple hubs in the UK and the Netherlands
• Every contractor needed a stack of up-to-date certifications
• Accommodation, transport, PPE and logistics all had to line up closely
• Any delay in paperwork could have meant someone missing a vessel or helicopter slot.

In other words: a lot of moving parts, all running at the same time.

Why We Were Brought In

People with Energy has been operating in the energy sector for decades, so we already had the networks and the internal processes to take on something of this size. The client wanted a partner who could blend into their project rather than one who worked purely at arm’s length.

They chose us for a few reasons:

• We know the offshore environment and its certification requirements very well
• We have long-standing relationships with many skilled offshore contractors
• Compliance and documentation checks are a core part of how we work, not an afterthought
• We were willing to place members of our own team inside their project structure
• The level of communication they expected matched how we already operate

Ultimately, they needed confidence that things wouldn’t slip between the cracks - and that’s what we focused on.

The Brief in Practical Terms

The core expectations looked like this:

• Bring in a large number of qualified tradespeople
• Make sure every contractor was fully certified and “vessel-ready”
• Handle PPE distribution and replacements
• Manage right-to-work checks and IR35 classification
• Keep the workforce compliant and consistent across long rotations
• Support four mobilisation hubs that all ran slightly differently

How We Approached the Work

Working Side by Side With the Client

Instead of directing things remotely, we embedded ourselves within the project teams. This meant we were close to the day-to-day activity, which made problem-solving and communication much smoother. Contractors also preferred having someone they could speak to face-to-face, especially when they were trying to sort visas, certificates or travel plans at short notice.

Finding the Right People in a Saturated Market

The offshore wind sector has been incredibly busy, but because we’ve worked in it for so long, we already had a strong pool of candidates we trusted. We used that network first, then expanded outward through targeted outreach and referrals to fill the remaining roles.

Thorough Checks Before Anyone Mobilised

Every contractor went through a proper review - not just the headline certificates, but the additional pieces that are sometimes overlooked. Medicals, training, survival courses, right-to-work, IR35 status, trade qualifications… everything was checked and documented before anyone stepped on a vessel.

Keeping Mobilisation Running Smoothly

Working with helicopter and vessel operators, hotels, freight companies and on-site coordinators became part of our day-to-day. We issued PPE, sorted replacements when things wore out or went missing, and kept the client consistently updated so there were no surprises.

Being Available When Issues Inevitably Appeared

Rotations don’t always go to plan. People fall ill, paperwork expires, flights change - and when something like that happens offshore, it usually needs attention immediately. We provided round-the-clock support for both the client and the contractors so that issues were resolved quickly and didn’t cause further disruption.

What We Delivered

Hornsea 2

• 58 contractors mobilised
• COVID restrictions handled without delaying sailouts
• All documentation kept up to date
• Strong continuity across rotations

Sofia Offshore Wind Farm

• 104 contractors supplied
• Workforce stability maintained for ongoing phases of the project
• Compliance managed throughout
• Multiple mobilisation points kept aligned

Why the Model Worked Well

• We already knew the offshore talent market and had strong relationships in place
• Our compliance team worked proactively, so problems didn’t turn up at the last minute
• Being physically present on the project meant fewer misunderstandings and quicker decisions
• 24/7 support allowed us to deal with issues before they grew into genuine risks
• The systems we used weren’t created just for these projects - they’ve been refined over years and are built for scale

What This Meant for the Client

• Lower operational risk: with every certification and document reliably checked
• A strong, stable workforce: contractors were properly prepared and supported
• Smooth rotations: thanks to consistent communication and planning
• A repeatable model: one they can rely on for future large-scale offshore work

Why This Kind of Partnership Matters

Offshore wind projects move quickly, and the pressure to keep them on schedule is constant. When a workforce is spread over several locations, with vessels, helicopter flights and safety rules all changing by the week, having a recruitment partner who understands the pace - and can work at the same tempo - becomes crucial.

These projects showed the difference that joined-up recruitment, compliance and logistics support can make. It doesn’t just get people offshore; it keeps everything running once they’re out there.