Bid to highlight North Sea economy contribution

BRITAIN’S oil and gas industry is launching a major campaign to highlight the North Sea’s vital contribution to the nation’s economy, it was revealed today.

Oil & Gas UK are launching the campaign for nationwide awareness. Picture: PA

Oil & Gas UK, the pan industry trade body, announced the launch of the nationwide awareness campaign - “Energising the Nation’s Future” - at an event in Aberdeen attended by leading figures from the oil and gas sector.

A spokesman for Oil & Gas UK explained: “The campaign is designed to improve awareness and understanding of the oil and gas industry and better map its contribution across the UK.

Through a series of events and activities over the coming months, Oil & Gas UK aims to demonstrate the central role that the industry plays through innovation, job creation and its economic contribution – both direct and indirect.

“The oil and gas industry supports 440,000 jobs across the UK, is the largest industrial investor, supplies the oil and gas to meet half the country’s primary energy needs and makes a major contribution to the UK’s overall prosperity. “

He continued: “The first step in the ‘Energising the Nation’s Future’ campaign is to build a new picture of the industry’s UK-wide network of skilled workers and celebrate the breadth of the supply chain supported by the sector.”

Malcolm Webb, Oil & Gas UK’s chief executive, said: “The oil and gas sector is the single largest industrial contributor to the UK economy. However, as an industry, we have perhaps not consistently engaged and explained the role that we play. The UK Government’s recent Oil and Gas Industrial Strategy brought deserved recognition to our industry and the capabilities of our world-class supply chain. Nevertheless, the sector is still labouring under several misconceptions about our reach and relevance and we need to improve awareness and recognition of the important value we add to people’s lives.

“In addition to the direct economic contribution we make, our industry is an impressive driver of innovation in science, manufacturing and engineering right across the UK. The oil and gas industry also supports a huge number of highly-skilled, well-paid jobs. The ‘Energising the Nation’s Future’ campaign aims to ensure that our industry and our members’ contributions are recognised fully for just what they are: a true success story for the nation.”

The campaign was backed by Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. He said: “This campaign is just the start. Over the coming months we will raise awareness of the industry and illustrate its importance to the UK economy as part of our oil and gas industrial sector strategy.

“The sector generates almost £27 billion in revenue alone and its extensive supply chain will be a strategic resource for the UK for many decades to come. This is an expanding industry and by working together we will be able to help create more jobs, attract the best talent and celebrate the breadth of the sector.”