Apart from Bonfire Night, I used to find November a rather depressing month – when the nights grew longer, the days became colder, the leaves fell from the trees and yet another year seemed to suddenly be racing to its end.
However, thanks to two events and the wise words of a knight, I have come to change my view. Let me explain.
First the two events: Share Fair and the Oil & Gas Awards.
Share Fair has gone from strength to strength under Oil & Gas UK’s management. Now, each November, the distinctive event attracts more and more people.
This year, well over 1,300 came to learn about the latest UK oil and gas business development opportunities direct from a wide and impressive range of leading operators and contractors.
At the same time, more than 1,000 “one-to-one” sessions were held between supplier and customer representatives in which they could explain their respective capabilities and requirements in a focused and friendly conversation.
Share Fair enables companies of all sizes and from across the whole industry to come together in an open and purposeful manner to get an invaluable insight into business opportunities and to explore the possibilities for new work.
Attending Share Fair in November is always an energising experience and, as soon as it is over, I look forward to next year.
Then, following Share Fair, we meet again in November but this time in our formal evening attire, for the Oil & Gas UK Awards in order to honour the achievements of a few of the very many great people and companies we are privileged to have in our world-class industry.
We could give out 100 awards quite easily each time but we have chosen to restrict ourselves to just five in order to heighten the competition and with that, the superb achievement of being one of only three finalists for each category selected by the judging panel of respected and independent experts.
The Awards are a truly great November celebration of our industry and all those who work in it. This year was certainly no exception.
Unlocking the full economic potential of the UK’s oil and gas resources will require both the industry and government to play their respective parts to the full.
Earlier this year, Sir Ian Wood was commissioned by the Secretary of State for Energy to review whether that was happening.
Sir Ian delivered his principal findings at the beginning of November – and they were very illuminating.
He has presented industry and the current Government with some uncomfortable truths concerning lack of focus, poor collaboration and less than effective stewardship by both sides.
However, while pointing out that time is not on our side, Sir Ian has also provided us with a prescription for change and for success.
The two key elements of his proposals are:
- A new requirement that oil companies collaborate together and with government in order to maximise the economic recovery of reserves and on a regional, as opposed to single, field basis and;
- A new, stronger and better resourced regulator to enforce and facilitate the new requirement for “MER -UK”.
Sir Ian is hugely knowledgeable of our industry and his research has been thorough, so it is maybe not surprising his findings have met with almost universal approval.
Oil & Gas UK certainly supports Sir Ian’s proposals and will be looking to play a purposeful part in their implementation.
And so this interim report has added a third reason for me to be positive about November.
Finally, I should tell you another reason for my change of attitude towards November. It was in this same month a decade ago that I first learned I had succeeded in getting the job I so much wanted and which indeed has turned out to be best I have ever had – my current one.
Best wishes from all at Oil & Gas UK for a happy and prosperous 2014.
Malcolm Webb is CEO of Oil & Gas UK
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