Senior oil and gas leaders meet to address behaviour challenges in the sector

The Shared Principles and Values (SPV) Event, organised by the Energy Jobs Taskforce, brings together senior leaders from the supply chain, operators, contractors, trade unions, safety representatives, regulatory bodies and government agencies to agree better ways of working to help drive forward improvements for the sector and protect its long term sustainability.

Chair of the Energy Jobs Taskforce and chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, Lena Wilson, said: “Scotland’s oil and gas sector continues to face critical challenges. Decisions taken by operators and supply chain companies today will have a lasting impact on the sector. Ensuring companies are equipped to deal with issues affecting them in the short term is a priority for us, but we also need to help them protect skills and talent to maximise future growth opportunities. This event aims to do just that by challenging existing behaviours and breaking down the barriers to change.”

This is the second SVP event to take place. This time last year the group met for the first time to reflect on the impact behaviours have on the industry and identify desired improvements for moving forward. Since then, a behaviours charter has been launched and new research released by Oil & Gas UK yesterday shows an improvement in collaboration between operators and supply chain companies.

Energy Jobs Taskforce members Andy Samuel, chief executive of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and Deirdre Michie, chief executive of Oil & Gas UK have played instrumental roles in developing today’s event.

Andy Samuel, Chief Executive at OGA, said: “The second Shared Principles and Values Event brings together a cross-section of leaders from across industry for an open discussion about the behaviours that will best maximise economic recovery and value from the UK Continental Shelf. Collaboration is required now, more than ever. I encourage leaders across the sector to do all they can to work together to secure the long-term success of our oil and gas industry.”

Deirdre Michie, chief executive of Oil & Gas UK, added: “This is a really critical and tough time for industry. This event offers a timely opportunity for people in the industry to get together to see how we can work better together going forward and so help better protect businesses here in Scotland and the thousands of people they employ.

“We are at a cross roads and find ourselves fighting to ensure the future of our industry but I remain confident in the expertise and the tenacity of the people and companies working in the North Sea today - and in the ability of industry to continue the hard task of becoming more efficient.

“There is some sign of success in this area as our recent survey, in partnership with Deloitte, revealed co-operation between operator companies in the North Sea oil and gas industry and the wider supply chain is heading in a more positive direction. Oil & Gas UK remains committed to supporting the drive for greater co-operation through its Efficiency Taskforce and will continue in its efforts to promote the expertise of the offshore industry at home and abroad.”