Following a successful re-launch last year, the Society of Petroleum Engineers Aberdeen Section is again hosting the Offshore Achievement Awards with the support of main sponsor TAQA Bratani.
This year will see the ceremony move to the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre to meet the huge demand for spaces at the event in March 2012.
Over 70 entries were received for the 2012 awards, which took place at Ardoe House Hotel in Aberdeen in front of around 400 people. Winners included Expro Group, AMEC and 3sun Group, with Professor Alex Kemp picking up the Lifetime Achievement award.
The 27th Offshore Achievement Awards are open to entries from all UK-registered companies. Last year the awards were opened up to offshore renewables companies for the first time, reflecting the growing reach of the North Sea industry. This year will again see awards open to renewables as well as the traditional oil and gas players.
Ian Phillips, director of CO2DeepStore Limited and the SPE board member responsible for organising the OAAs, said: “The success we saw after re-launching the awards last year was hugely positive and demonstrated that the awards have a firm place in the energy sector calendar.
“The Offshore Achievement Awards are the premier forum for celebrating the very best in the offshore industry, from young professionals and emerging technologies through to safety advances and overall company performance. It is vital that we recognise the talent which has been responsible for shaping the industry that we see today, as well the high performers and pioneers that will develop the cutting edge solutions and innovations in the future.
“SPE Aberdeen is proud to be hosting the awards again this year, with the support of main sponsor TAQA Bratani. Planning is already well underway for an even bigger and better ceremony next March and we are excited to uncover many more of the offshore industry’s success stories.”
As well as recognising exceptional business growth, the awards will focus on particular innovations, safety breakthroughs and collaborative efforts, as well as individual success.
Leo Koot, managing director of TAQA Bratani, said: “I'm particularly pleased that we're supporting the 2013 Offshore Achievement Awards, not only because they celebrate success throughout the industry, but because they recognise innovation. TAQA recognises that it's going to take innovative commercial solutions to maximise the potential of the UKCS, so it's important that companies with a creative approach to doing business are awarded.”
The OAAs, previously organised by Scottish Enterprise, open for entries on 1 October and close on 1 December. The Black Tie awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, 21 March, next year at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
The titles of two categories have changed this year, however criteria stays the same. The 2013 categories are:
- Export Achievement
- Offshore Renewables
- Safety Innovations
- Emerging Technology (previously New Idea)
- The Innovator
- Great Small Company
- Great Large Company
- Working Together
- Young Professional
- Significant Contribution (previously Lifetime Achievement)