Offshore staff
LONDON – Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) has established a new forum to help small and mid-size businesses cope with the present offshore oil and gas downturn.
The forum, launched by the association’s Continuous Improvement team, comes amid concern that increasing numbers of smaller companies serving the industry may not survive current economic pressures and the continued COVID-19 restrictions.
It will give participants access to OGUK’s business support guidance and initiatives, and the opportunity to identify and address issues affecting SMEs and to collectively formulate solutions.
Emily Taylor, OGUK’s continuous improvement manager, said: “The new forum will deliver a platform to share and engage, as well as showcase the work OGUK is doing to support smaller businesses and stimulate a recovery.
“This will give our members the chance to keep their finger on the pulse and offer solutions to challenges industry is facing.”
The first forum on Aug. 18 will include an update on the UK’s Brexit negotiations with the European Union and its impact on the industry, and an update from OGUK’s external affairs team on political developments and their impact on the oil and gas supply chain.
Forum chair Catriona Stevenson (business manager at Ecosse IP) said: “Working for a small business and having founded an oil and gas networking group during the last downturn has made me very aware of the struggles that these companies face, and now more than ever I feel they need our support.
“As we move into the energy transition and with Brexit upon us, I feel that the SME community need to come together with one voice to be heard and be better supported across the sector.”
More information at [email protected]
08/05/2020
