Energy titles up for grabs as leading lights gather for big night

Major achievements to be recognised as industry booms

The leading lights in the north’s energy industry are vying for the honours in a prestigious awards event this week.

Friday night’s ceremony at Drumossie Hotel, Inverness, will honour achievements in the oil and gas, renewables and supply-chain sectors.

Nine titles will be awarded, includingoneina newcategory for this year – best newcomer.

There is also a community award, which acknowledges the growing number of rural organisations capitalising on renewable-energy development opportunities.

Organiser Energy North, the trade body representing Highland energy firms, said it received an “unprecedented” number of entries for the competition.

Chief executive Ian Couper said: “The judges are going to have a particularly tough time picking a winner this year as we have received so many highquality submissions.

“The north energy industry is booming. In the past year we’ve had positive announcements about Nigg, the Pentland Firth and OrkneyWatersMarine Energy Park and the Beauly to

“This is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our successes”

Denny line, all of which will have a knock-on effect for hundreds of local businesses.

“The Energy North Awards is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the industry’s successes together. We are all really looking forward to it.” Shortlisted finalists: Best oil and gas service supplier – the Underwater Centre, Opus, JGC and Lerwick Harbour.

Community – Islay Energy Trust, Sallachy and HorshaderCommunityDevelopment Trust.

Onshore renewables – Seam, Muirden, RWE Npower renewables and the Environmental Research Institute.

Offshore renewables – Voith Wavegen, Emec, the Underwater Centre, Pentland Firth and OrkneyWaters Marine Energy Park and Moray First Marine.

Service supply – the Underwater Centre, Nigg Skills Academy, Moray Firth Marine, Opus, Portakabin and Esave.

Export – Aquatera and Wavegen.

Employer engagement – Sureclean; SSE; Serimax andDounreaySite Restoration.

Ambassador and newcomer award winners will be announced on the night. The north- east’s Alfie Cheyne has beaten impressive competition to be crowned global director of the year by one of the UK’s top business organisations.

Mr Cheyne, chief executive and founder of Ace Winches, was named the winnerof the prestigious title at the Institute of Directors’ annual awards in London.

His place on the final shortlist was secured in March, when he won a regional director of the year award.

Entrants had to be able to show that at least 25% of their company’s turnover