When I joined Decom North Sea in April, one of the first things I was briefed on was the upcoming Decom Week which would take place in May, essentially replacing the existing Decom Offshore event, which had run for almost 10 years.
Ambition
There are significant differences between the two events, but the one which impressed me most of all is the most obvious: Decom Offshore was a one-day event. In contrast, and as the name suggests, Decom Week provided five days’ worth of insightful information, panel sessions and conversation with more than 180 speakers, hundreds of delegates and an expo featuring nearly 90 companies.
Whilst I never had a doubt that Decom Week was going to be a big success, my initial thought was that this sounded like a hugely ambitious project – and it was. Testament to the drive of my predecessor, Will Rowley, the board of directors and our small, but perfectly formed executive team, the inaugural Decom Week was unlike anything previously undertaken by DNS and it worked brilliantly.
Safeguarding the Sector
With membership opportunity as the very top priority, the wide-ranging agenda truly reflected the event’s title, “The Future of Decommissioning”. By focusing on all aspects of decommissioning, delegates were able to dive into renewables, marine, salvage and nuclear, as well as the more “traditional” oil and gas. With tech talks, demonstrations and topical discussions, the insight provided by speakers and delegates alike was useful and pragmatic – not least the most comprehensive update yet on decommissioning projects.
An International Flavour
Over the past year, Will has been an active promoter of the international opportunities available to our members, and it was this element of Decom Week which struck me as the most significant shift in focus. The global insight we gained from some of the industry’s biggest players was quite outstanding, with all international guests sharing upcoming opportunities and making it very clear that the UK’s decommissioning expertise is exactly what they need.
Our delegates hailed from 27 different countries – a record for a DNS event and a real broadening of horizons for our networking sessions. Of course, much of this can be attributed to the virtual nature of the event, surely one of the positives to have arisen during 2020-21. And with 86% of those who purchased tickets attending the event, it was also clear that the more flexible, online forum made for easier delegate access. We also noticed a real increase in delegate interaction with panellists, which was beneficial for the audience and contributors alike, and again likely attributable to the virtual environment.
Celebrating Success
The annual Decom Awards were a highlight of the week for many, making for a dynamic end to the whole event and showcasing winners to a larger, more international audience than ever. The calibre of finalists this year was unrivalled, with real innovation and commitment in evidence across the entries.
Here’s to the Future
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with comments crediting the great mix of speakers and themes covered. Taking that into account, and thinking about the unprecedented engagement levels across the whole week, we’re planning to host a hybrid 2022 event. By streaming the live events, we’ll broaden our locations and ensure that all are accessible across the globe. It’s a pattern we intend to continue over the coming months and years, not least with the launch of the Decom North Sea Academy, and the various Decom Live events due to kick off in late summer.
So, here’s to a busy year and many opportunities for our membership in the lead up to Decom Week 2022. To find out more about the work we do, visit www.decomnorthsea.com
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