Influential trade body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has announced Steve Nicol as the new supply chain champion for the sector.
Nicol is Executive President of Operations at John Wood Group plc, the Aberdeen-based engineering and consulting giant.
Nicol, who is based in Aberdeen, succeeds Sian Lloyd Rees, Managing Director, Awen Solutions, who was appointed inaugural supply chain champion in 2021.
Steve Nicol, Executive President of Operations, John Wood Group
“The role is a key part of the North Sea Transition Deal (NSTD) agreed by industry and government to accelerate the energy transition, reduce carbon emissions, and grow the economy,” said OEUK.
“Mr Nicol will support Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) in its work across industry, governments, and regulators to build, enable, grow and sustain the UK’s offshore energy supply chain.
“In one of her final steps as outgoing champion, Sian Lloyd Rees set out her thoughts on the future of the offshore energy supply chain in a report published by OEUK …
“In her report, Ms Lloyd Rees highlighted the need to build on UK industrial strengths which, with timely support, could help accelerate progress towards the UK Government’s energy and net zero ambitions.”
OEUK CEO David Whitehouse said: “With a heritage in oil and gas and a growing rich expertise across offshore energies, supply chain companies and the tens of thousands of jobs they support have the potential to be the lifeblood of a homegrown energy transition. We must protect this expertise and harness it.
“We must build on our industrial strengths, and we do that through working in partnership across sectors and with governments. Creating new opportunities for people and the economy starts with unlocking investment into our offshore energy supply chain and the time to act is now.”
Nicol said: “People, skills and a robust supply chain are not only vital to the safe delivery of energy today, but for our future net zero ambitions.
“The supply chain must be able to expand and grow, and we need an attractive business environment that stimulates investment, enables new technology and champions the people who have the skills to deliver the transition.”