STEM initiatives, training and educational events aimed at inspiring the next generation will be supported and highlighted at the annual Offshore Achievement Awards (OAA). Following a year of record entry levels in 2018, the programme for the 33rd year of the Awards has just been launched.
The OAAs aim to recognise excellence in a range of categories; from Innovation to Collaboration, Export Achievement to Outstanding Skills Development and more. The awards will also put a spotlight on the Young Professionals category, which recognises individuals under 35 who are making their mark in the petroleum industry.
2018 Young Professional winner Laura Steedman, 24, Mechanical Engineer, BP North Sea said for her, the OAA opened doors to an excellent network of talented and experienced industry professionals.
“It was an incredible honour to have received such prestigious recognition,” Ms Steedman commented.
“I would encourage young professionals from any sector of the offshore industry to apply to OAA as it will demonstrate your ambition and raise your profile. The application process is a useful self-evaluation exercise to understand what you have achieved, your aspirations and your personal development plan to reach those goals.”
As a not-for-profit organisation, SPE Aberdeen reinvests surplus income from the awards back into a full programme of STEM events and training, as well as higher education scholarships and bursaries. Ian Phillips, chairman of the SPE Aberdeen Section and the OAA said that it is a privilege for SPE Aberdeen to be able to provide a platform for sharing success stories within the oil and gas and renewable sectors.
“The event goes from strength to strength and this year, in our eighth year as custodian of the awards, we were delighted to be joined at the awards dinner by an astronaut and engineer/scientist involved in the ‘NASA in Aberdeen – Inspiring the Next Generation’ project, which is jointly organised by SPE, Energy Institute, Society of Underwater Technology, TechFest and Aberdeen Science Centre,” he said.
“This gives the audience an insight into the processes and technologies used across both industries, which can help us inspire interest from the next generation. This reflects a key part of SPE’s mission and is arguably more important now than ever.”
Entries are open from now until Friday 16 November. Submissions are welcome from companies operating offshore in both the oil and gas and renewables sectors.
More information can be found here.
The 2019 categories include:
- Emerging Technology (sponsored by Offshore Europe Partnership)
- Innovator
- HSE Innovation
- Collaboration (sponsored by Nexen)
- Export Achievement (sponsored by EIC)
- Outstanding Skills Development
- Young Professional
- Above & Beyond
- Great Company – SME
- Great Company – Large
- Significant Contribution Award
