Thursday 5 November 2009

PILOT SHARE FAIR 11 ATTRACTS RECORD ATTENDANCE LEVELS

A record breaking 750 delegates from across the UK and overseas attended this years PILOT Share Fair 11, a sell-out event, held on Wednesday, 04 November 2009. Between them they listened to over 100 presentations and attended more than 800 pre-booked, private one-to-one sessions.

Throughout the day, which was sponsored by CAN, 11 companies, including Amec, BG Group, BP, Nexen, Petro-Canada, Petrofac, PSN, Shell, Taqa, Total and Wood Group, presented their strategies for the North Sea. Their presentations included information on their upcoming drilling programmes, technology requirements, environment and integrity projects, plans for operations and maintenance, decommissioning and development projects, as well as providing key company contact details. These planned activities, which are all scheduled to take place over the next 18 months, are estimated to represent potential new business in the region of several billion pounds.

Malcolm Webb, Oil & Gas UK's chief executive said: "We believe that this years PILOT Share Fair has been the most important yet. The current economic climate is undoubtedly difficult which makes it even more important to identify and understand forthcoming industry opportunities to ensure that companies are best positioned to maximise growth. The high turnout today emphasises that our industry is still open for business;  it also reflects the continued significance of our industry's supply chain, which has an annual turnover of £16 billion and pays £5-6 billion in corporation tax, payroll tax and national insurance contributions each year.

"I know of no other industry that stages an event quite like Share Fair; it provides an excellent opportunity for suppliers in the UK to keep abreast of business developments and for industry to gauge suppliers appetite for staying committed to and focused on investing and developing the UK continental shelf."

In addition to the familiar Share Fair programme, Oil & Gas UK increased the number of one to one sessions available to delegates. These sessions provided a unique opportunity for small to medium sized enterprises to build relationships with key contacts from some of the major operators and contractors in the UK oil and gas industry.

The association has also, for the first time, created a Self Help Zone for SMEs which enable organisations to interact directly with representatives from some of the major financial institutions and management consultancies in the UK.

ENDS

 

 

For further information contact Britta Hallbauer on 07891769113