Leader in region’s energy industry reports ‘green shoots’ for oil and gas ahead of flagship event

Rejuvenation and reinvigoration will be on the minds of energy businesses as they gather for one of the sector's biggest events in the East of England.

The past few years have brought little good news for the oil and gas industry, with jobs and businesses falling victim to its instability, though the East of England Energy Group's annual Southern North Sea (SNS) conference and exhibition – which attracted more than 1,000 delegates last year – has tried to temper the despondency.

But the group's chief executive says 'green shoots' in the sector over the past year will give delegates some genuinely positive news as they congregate for the event at Norfolk Showground on February 28 and March 1.

The key themes of SNS2018 will be collaboration, innovation and rejuvenation, as oil and gas companies continue their recovery in a world where people are becoming more aware of their environmental impact.

Industry leaders, oil and gas operators, nuclear experts and developers of multi-billion-pound offshore wind farms off the east coast will reveal new predictions, developments and opportunities for the region's supply chain.

Revived for the 2018 event – where around 70 companies are expected to exhibit – is a Meet the Buyer event, enabling supply chain companies to pitch to industry giants, and signalling an uptick in demand for services.

EEEGR chief executive Simon Gray said: 'Greens shoots in the gas industry were reported by the Oil and Gas Authority at our Westminster reception last October and, from what I am hearing from our supply chain members, business is improving.

'To be able to give delegates positive news about increased oil and gas activity is what we have been waiting for – and the region also has huge opportunities in both the nuclear and offshore wind sectors.'

Deirdre Michie, chief executive of Oil & Gas UK, will give the conference's keynote speech on February 28. The stage line-up also includes Nils Cors, head of decommissioning at the Oil and Gas Authority, Lynne McDonald of UK Power Networks, who will offer projections on networks, distribution and storage, and Duncan Clark, programme director for Hornsea 1 and 2 for Ørsted (formerly Dong Energy).

Will your business be at SNS 2018? Tell us what you think the big talking points will be – email bethany.whymark@archant.co.uk

Improving fortunes

SNS2018 promises to provide greater opportunities for supply chain companies.

The return of the Meet the Buyer event, allowing firms to pitch their specialisms directly to energy operators and tier one companies, is a signal that the industry's strength is rallying as demand for supply chain services begins to increase.

Meanwhile the number of valuable wind farm projects getting under way in the east could prove fruitful for supply chain companies, both in the renewables sector and as a chance for others to diversify.

Simon Gray said: 'Our SNS exhibition and conference is where business is done.

'Supply chain companies generate fresh leads, make new contacts and cement existing relationships.

'Exhibitors have the chance to showcase what they can do, how they fit with other companies and reinforce their brand and the conference allows the supply chain to learn what is happening in the industry and what is being forecast.'