We are all well aware of the difficulties that the oil and gas sector is currently facing and the impact that has had on confidence, investment and jobs. Although we live in a price volatile market and the sector has experienced a number of slowdowns over the years, it doesn’t make the decisions that some companies have had to make any easier or indeed the impact for the individuals concerned.
The Energy Jobs Task Force was set in January 2015 by the Scottish Government to provide support to individuals and companies affected by the slowdown, as well as working with key industry leaders and stakeholders to help being about the cultural and behavioural change required to help make this industry a more sustainable one in the longer term. We need to reinforce the point that this is an industry which, if the right things are done now on issues such as cost efficiency, still has a long and bright future ahead of it.
But as well as looking at such longer term issues, we are fully aware that the supply chain, which is increasingly likely to feel the impact of the slowdown in the months ahead, needs support, advice and guidance right now to help it deal with our challenges. That is why, with the support of the Task Force, a series of workshops across Scotland have been organised through December and January.
These events provide an opportunity to hear from industry leaders, including members of the Task Force, on their views on the current situation as well as learning from other sectors and a view from the supply chain itself as to what help they need. There are also themed sessions where companies can discuss resilience in areas such as finance, operations and strategy as well as finding out what help is available from Enterprise Agencies and other support bodies.
The first of these events, which are being organised by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, took place in Aberdeen on Tuesday with speakers including Matt Corbin from Aker Solutions and Bob Keiller from Wood Group. The initial feedback from companies attending has been very positive and those attending found the information and support provided very useful indeed. There was a clear sense of the recognition of the challenges but also that the solutions also lie in the hands of all aspects of the industry.
Other events are being held in Dundee (Dec 8) Glasgow (Jan 14) Inverness (Jan 22) and Troon (Jan 27).
These events have been designed with the supply chain very much in mind and we hope that those attending get some valuable insights from industry leaders as well as receiving practical support and advice which they can apply to their own business.
David Rennie is the Head of Oil and Gas at Scottish Enterprise.
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