NERA connects Australian SMEs with global export opportunities in the North Sea

01/05/2018

Australian energy resources small and medium enterprises (SMEs) received international networking and exporting insights into Scotland’s rich North Sea market as part of a tailored industry workshop coordinated by NERA, Austrade and the Scottish Development International (SDI).

Held at the CORE Innovation Hub in Perth during August 2018, the briefing and networking event provided tactical advice for Australian entrepreneurs and innovators looking to tap into Scotland’s high-value energy marketplace. Attendees, drawn from a wide variety of service companies, start-ups and tech providers, received specific information on how to position their product or service to maximise export opportunities into the North Sea energy hub.

Speakers at the event included members from the Australian and Scottish industry and government including Chris Meredith from Wood Mackenzie, Ruth Keane from Austrade and Blair Miller from SDI.

Mr Miller – Senior Trade & Investment Executive with SDI – said perceptions that there was no longer a viable future for the oil and gas industry in the North Sea were false with a strong pipeline of major projects currently committed to or about to commence including a 5% increase in oil and gas production forecast for 2018 alone.

For SMEs looking for high-value trade opportunities, Scotland’s oil and gas industry currently comprises 2,000 supply chain companies, £11b in turnover per annum and is expected to continue to expand in the coming years.

The workshop also covered Scotland’s wider energy resources industries with the region offering opportunities for Australian SMEs beyond oil and gas, particularly through an increasing focus on renewable energy sources, particularly wind, wave, and hydrogen energy generation.

NERA will continue to provide Australian companies operating in the energy resources sector with opportunities to engage with and learn about export channels to gain value exposure to global trade pathways.

(L-R) NERA GM Francis Norman joined fellow panellists, Donna Hutchison from Quensh, Ashley Duncan from Subsea Australia, Katie Williams from Pinsent Mason and Ruth Keane from Austrade.