Energy businesses across the North-east are being asked to deliver their verdict on the future of the sector as a major industry health check gets underway.
The 44th edition of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce’s Energy Transition Survey has launched today, seeking views from businesses operating across oil and gas, renewables and the wider energy supply chain.
The bi-annual survey, which has tracked the fortunes of the region’s energy sector for more than two decades, will examine business confidence, investment, employment and the policy environment facing companies.
This edition comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, with a new Prime Minister signalling a more pragmatic approach to energy policy against a backdrop of continuing geopolitical uncertainty and a renewed focus on economic growth across all parts of the country.
The Chamber says the findings will provide crucial evidence as it presses the UK and Scottish governments to create the conditions needed to unlock investment, protect jobs and allow all parts of the domestic energy sector to realise their potential.
Recent editions of the survey have generated significant national media coverage, informed government consultations and been used directly in discussions with ministers, civil servants and policymakers.
The study is sponsored by leading business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael and clean energy group D2Zero.
Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is a pivotal moment for the North-east and for the UK’s energy industry. We have a new Prime Minister talking about a more pragmatic approach to energy policy and recognising the importance of delivering economic growth across all parts of the country.
“Now we need to understand what is really happening on the ground and whether businesses are seeing reasons for renewed confidence in the future. We will be assessing confidence levels of energy operators and supply chain businesses, looking at progress with transition-related work and the barriers to this, asking what our Westminster and Holyrood governments should be doing better to enable the future of our domestic energy sector and investigating the impact this is having on workers.
“For more than two decades, this survey has given the North-east energy industry a powerful voice at the highest levels of government. The stronger the response, the stronger the evidence we can put in front of ministers as we make the case for the policy changes needed to unlock investment, protect jobs and ensure this region remains at the heart of the UK’s energy future.”
The survey is open and takes around 25 minutes to complete. Responses are confidential and are never attributed to individual respondents or organisations. The survey closes on September 25.
Click here to take the survey.
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