Whittaker Engineering won the Family Business award - sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland - at the 2026 Northern Star Business Awards.
Whittaker was founded by Ken and Janet Whittaker in 1983, offering quality turn-key manufacturing, design and engineering solutions for the global energy industry and offshore construction projects.
The company has consistently demonstrated excellence in engineering and manufacturing, marked by innovation, commitment to quality, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction for the past 42 years.
Murray Whittaker joined the company in 2011 and has participated in key decision making, helping him gain firsthand experience with strategic thinking, conflict resolution, and accountability, helping to ensure a smooth transition, for the next 40 successful years of Whittaker ownership.
Family Business NSBA2026 Whittaker Engineering with sponsor Royal Bank of Scotland
Murray’s eldest son has now also started his engineering career with a mechanical / hydraulic apprenticeship with another company in Aberdeen, helping him to build a strong technical foundation for the future.
This year, Whittaker employed a new General Manger – Hamish Oag. As well as lightening the daily load for the both Ken and Murray, this ensures there is a progression plan in place, and the company is more ‘future-proof’. Staff have regular performance evaluations, leadership potential assessments, and open discussions about long-term goals and interests. This has helped to highlight key team members who show strong leadership potential, value alignment, and a genuine interest in the future of the business.
Many senior members of staff within the company have progressed from other roles and some started out as trade apprentices and are now project engineers and managers.