A pharmaceutical expert has urged the UK oil and gas industry to learn from his industry and work to improve its reputation.
Andrew Powrie-Smith, a director at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, told delegates at yesterday’s Oil and Gas UK breakfast to be proactive in trying to improve the perception of the sector “because it impacts on everything you do”.
Mr Powrie-Smith said the pharmaceutical industry had been working hard to turn around its reputation because of the inherent tension between profit and healthcare.
“No longer are we just about the things we sell, it is about who we are and how we do what we do. You have to clearly identify the perception of your industry, compared with the reality. Even if the reality is very different . . . if there is a negative perception of you, then from a reputation perspective you still have a problem.”
The pharmaceutical sector did a lot of good work but still had to shake off the view that it placed profits above ethics,” he said, adding: “It is frustrating for us that we invest, create and innovate, and develop healthcare to extend people’s lives and change their quality of life, but we have to make a profit to continue to do that. The perception of the industry continues to be challenging.
“Be proactive in your reputation management, because it impacts on everything you do.”
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