The finalists of the 2019 Press & Journal Gold Awards were selected after several hours of debate and discussion by a panel of industry leaders yesterday in Aberdeen.
Judges were faced with the difficult task of choosing from the strongest list of entries received for the prestigious event.
Now in their fifth year, the Gold Awards have become a highlight of the north-east business calendar.
The shortlist will soon be unveiled for categories, including the industry leader award and the health and safety gong.
Judges were highly impressed by the outstanding quality of candidates discussed during the session.
Brenda Wyllie, from the Oil and Gas Authority, was a judge.
She said: “I was delighted to be part of the judging panel again this year. The standard of entries was so high, leading to some great debate and open challenges.”
Fellow panel member Alan Dick, from Simmons Energy, said: “These awards highlight and promote the successes of companies and individuals across the energy sector.
“The increased quality and number of submissions in 2019 created a few challenges for the judges.”
Jodie MacLeod, from Aberdeen Standard Investments, said: “The very high calibre of entries this year made for very difficult decisions and discussions for the judging panel.”
Luca Corradi, from the Oil and Gas Technology Centre, said: “I really enjoyed the discussion and the different views of the panel members. It was an excellent list of nominations, and sometimes it was a difficult decision to split them.”
Paul White, from Baker Hughes GE, said: “These awards are a great opportunity to recognise some excellent businesses and innovation in the industry. The standard was high, with some strong competition across the categories.”
Tracy Clark, director at ITC Hydraulic Services, was also on the judging panel, chaired by Energy Voice editor Mark Lammey.
The Press & Journal Gold Awards are an annual celebration of the brightest and best companies and individuals in the energy sector.
Since its inception in 2015, the competition has gone from strength to strength.
About 300 people attended last year’s glamorous awards ceremony.
Entrants for the 2019 edition are going head-to-head in a number of categories, including “above and beyond”, health and safety, renewables, apprentice, industry leader, and small and large company of the year.
The innovation category was perhaps the most hotly-contested, with 13 separate candidates put forward.
Competition was also fierce for the Dr Mildred Dresselhaus award, which recognises the contribution of an outstanding woman in energy, with five entries.
This year’s ceremony will be held at the Chester Hotel in Aberdeen on Friday, September 6, during which a new inductee to the Hall of Fame will be announced.
Previous winners of the prestigious title include industry heavyweights Professor Alex Kemp, Balmoral CEO Jimmy Milne, Sir Ian Wood, and Wood CEO Robin Watson, who all took home a gong.
For enquiries please contact Laura Adam by email laadam@dctmedia.co.uk or telephone 01382 575308.