Energy Jobs Taskforce and third PACE session held in Aberdeen

The meeting today also coincided with a further two taskforce organised events:

• Around 790 individuals have attended the third PACE event at the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen. Similar to the last PACE event individuals have had the opportunity to meet with employers which currently have vacancies as well as a chance to get free impartial advice on job and training opportunities

• Around 30 people participating in a leadership masterclass event led by Professor Bart Van Ark, chief economist of The Conference Board and a worldwide expert on productivity. The event is focused around driving innovation to improve performance.

At the meeting, Taskforce members reviewed current progress of delivery of the plan set out earlier this year and agreed key next steps to ensure maximum support is extended to all individuals and companies impacted by the volatile oil price.

The Taskforce has worked with leading companies and the trade unions to introduced a range of new initiatives and practical support mechanisms for hundreds of SMEs in the sector from managing cashflow to supply chain management and leading in challenging circumstances.

It has also accelerated work with larger companies that will enable supply chain best practice, increase standardisation, enhance leadership, encourage more collaborative behaviour and ultimately drive the much needed cost efficiencies in the sector.

A further series of events and workshops is being planned over the autumn to increase the resilience of the supply chain to deal with the current challenges and also to discuss how all parts of the sector can work more closely to help deal with cost efficiency challenges.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “There is a shared determination within the industry to collaborate and overcome the challenges currently besetting the industry, which have been exacerbated by the low global oil price. The Energy Jobs Taskforce brings together the right people from government, the wider public sector industry and industry bodies to co-ordinate action and lay a solid foundation for a truly modernised industry.

“While the Scottish Government continues to take action to support the sector, the UK Government has yet to fulfil its commitment to further consultation with the industry during 2015 on options to support exploration, decommissioning and critical infrastructure.

“I have already called on the UK Government to bring forward these consultations – a commitment made ten months ago – to enable industry to commit to the investment required for this sector to prosper for many decades to come. In order for fiscal reforms to be effective and to provide confidence to investors a commitment should be made that there will be no tax increases for the life of the current UK Parliament.

“Now is the time for action from the UK Government.”

Speaking at the meeting, chair of the Energy Jobs Taskforce, Dr Lena Wilson, said: “The immediate focus of the Taskforce has been on ensuring the right support is reaching those who are facing redundancy and to date we've engaged with over 2,500 individuals and more than 100 companies.

“Whilst this support has and will continue for as long as necessary, the Taskforce has also made significant progress in helping to establish and tackle the wider issues facing the industry which will be crucial to its sustainability and growth.”

Commenting on the success of the latest PACE event, Gordon McGuinness, Depute Director of Industry & Enterprise Networks of Skills Development Scotland, said:

"The PACE event today was successful in bringing hundreds of oil and gas workers together with employers and support services.

"Like previous jobs fairs, workers at risk of redundancy will have found employment as a direct result of today's event while others will have received invaluable information on areas such as CV writing, job searching and financial advice.

"We are committed to sustaining our support for workers who have experienced redundancy and those at risk and will build on the success of today's event."

The Taskforce will continue to oversee delivery of the key action areas focussed around leadership, best practice, innovation, cost efficiency, internationalisation and deeper investment in skills.

For more information on the Taskforce, its action plan and progress to date please visit http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/resources/working-groups/energy-advisory-board/Energy-Jobs-Taskforce