Sunday 12 April 2009

The Apprentice’s Business Expert Addresses Generation Y in Aberdeen

Oil & Gas UK has revealed an exciting line-up of speakers who will address young professionals at its Next Generation conference on 22 April in Aberdeen, sponsored by Maersk Oil. The list is led by top female entrepreneur, Michelle Mone, who created the Ultimo lingerie brand and recently stepped in as business expert to help the female team to victory on Comic Relief Does the Apprentice 2009.

The conference is being held to help the industry learn what motivates its young professionals, often referred to as Generation Y, with a view to ensuring their attraction and retention and hence a sustainable future for the UK continental shelf (UKCS). They are known to be goal oriented, self confident and energised by variety in their job while expecting motivational leadership, flexibility and opportunities for learning and development.

Oil & Gas UK's communications director, Trisha OReilly, said: "The motivations and expectations of Generation Y are hugely different to those of young professionals starting their careers twenty or thirty years ago. It is important that today's leaders hear and consider what attracts these skilled people to our sector and of course what will keep them here. The companies who have together already registered around a hundred young professionals for this event are demonstrating their willingness to listen and work towards a working environment in which the industry's future leaders will flourish."

In her capacity as a highly successful young entrepreneur, Michelle Mone is well qualified to give her perspective on the opportunities and pitfalls of perceiving the world in a different way to those that went before her. She will explain how she has succeeded in establishing a working environment which has contributed to a committed workforce and prosperous business.

Technip's graduate contracts engineer, Yvonne Scott, will then draw on her experience supporting a project team undertaking a subsea project to inspire a discussion among delegates on changing attitudes. She will consider the importance of flexibility in the workplace and the characteristics that new recruits look for in a company. Before lunch, Chevron's learning and organisational development leader, David Sherrit, will explore and encourage debate on the formula for ensuring individuals' success alongside companies' achievements.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to offer their views on the extent to which companies should place wider societal issues at the heart of their business operations. It will be the job of three young speakers from Generation Y to convince attendees that their area should be central to the business strategy of their ideal firm. James Cox of Poyry Energy, Andrew Bassett of Oil & Gas UK and Gordon Graham of Maersk Oil will put forward the arguments promoting energy security, economic growth and environmental protection respectively.

From the varied programme of presentations and debate, delegates will build a template for the ideal company they would wish to work for. This will be presented to HR professionals attending the Oil & Gas UK skills seminar entitled 'Challenging the Status Quo' in May, and will subsequently also find an audience at our special breakfast briefing at Offshore Europe in September.

Trisha OReilly continued: "It is hoped that fostering a better understanding of the needs, expectations and aspirations of Generation Y will increase the attraction and retention of this particular group of employees, helping the industry to emerge from the current recession in the best health possible and continue sustainable operations for decades to come."

To register young professionals for this event and in return, benefit from knowing what really makes them tick, visit www.oilandgasuk.co.uk

Ends

Notes to editors

Oil & Gas UK is the leading representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry. Its 80 members are licensed by the Government to explore for and produce oil and gas in UK waters and those who form any part of the industry's supply chain.

For further information contact Britta Hallbauer on 07891769113 or bhallbauer@oilandgasuk.co.uk