A report from Oil & Gas UK highlights that there are currently 330,000 jobs in the UK supported by oil production – down from 450,000 in 2014. This fall is an indication of the challenging times which firms operating in the North Sea have experienced over the past couple of years. In January oil prices reached a 12-year low, before rallying to post a year high in June.  

“The industry has been spending more than it is earning since the oil-price slump towards the end of 2014. To survive the industry has had no choice but to improve its performance.” – Deirdre Miche, Chief Executive of Oil & Gas UK.

Just this week we have read that Scotland’s revenues from North Sea oil have fallen by 97% over the past 12 months. This is in part a result of a fall in the price of a barrel of oil, but also a reflection of North Sea oil production. With much of the oil having already been extracted, these are now mature assists – the oil is becoming more difficult and costly to extract. As a result, Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, said the country faced a challenge of how to grow and diversify the onshore economy to offset the loss.

A Good Day for Wind Output in Scotland

It’s not all bad news for Scotland. Earlier this month strong winds and reduced demand meant that wind turbines were able to produce enough electricity to power the country for a whole day. Speaking about the achievement, the director of WWF Scotland, Lang Banks, said:

“While Sunday’s weather caused disruption for many people, it also proved to be a good day for wind output, with wind turbines alone providing the equivalent of all Scotland’s total electricity needs. This major moment was made possible thanks, in part, to many years of political support, which means that across the year now, renewables contribute well over half of our electricity needs. However, if we want to ensure we reap the many benefits of becoming a low-carbon economy we need to see this political support for renewable continue.”

At People with Energy we are continually working with exciting clients to recruit talented individuals for renewable energy roles both in the UK and around the world. Whether you are looking for your first job in the industry or a change or career, we would love to hear from you.

You can find full details of all the roles we are currently recruiting for by clicking here. Alternatively, you can send us a copy of your CV and one of our experienced recruiters will be in touch.