Two hundred oil and gas contractors packed into an Aberdeen hotel last night amid growing anger about job cuts in the sector.
Six businesses joined forces to host the “Explore” conference at the Park Inn, where industry experts offered free advice to those fearing for the future. Workers were urged to look at their company structure, banking and tax arrangements, insurance and finances to see them through what could be a prolonged period of low oil prices.
Tickets for the conference sold out within days and last night the organisers – Aberdein Considine, Clydesdale Bank, Caunce O’Hara, EC Energy Contractors, FourM and Contractor MVLs, part of Johnston Carmichael – said the huge attendance underlined just how many people were worried about the future.
Allan Gardner, of Aberdein Considine, said: “Clearly, a number of people are concerned about what 2015 holds. However, there are a number of things which these workers can do to protect themselves.
“We certainly don’t want these people just to give up – they are too important to Aberdeen and to the industry for that.”
Panellists explained the lifecycle of a contractor company, including the means of closing one-man companies in a tax efficient fashion.
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