UK Energy Excellence

UK EnergyUK Trade & Investment (UKTI), like the SBGI, has a mission to promote the interests of the UK energy and utility networks industry, in the international sphere.

Indeed, more than that, we promote the international interests of UK energy companies generally. In the current economic climate it is a wise company that takes a wider view of where its business interests may lie and many who work in the field of energy networks are thinking about diversification. SBGI is itself, and in its own words, seeking to stretch its representation into areas ‘beyond gas’.
The energy industries globally are affected by the overall economic downturn, like most other industries. However, there is still considerable investment going on in many areas and UK companies are well positioned to benefit from it. Naturally, SBGI members will be interested in the fact that major international gas transportation projects like the Nabucco pipeline continue to move ahead.
Major investment, of many billions of dollars is also expected over the next few years in transmission and distribution projects in China, India and Brazil. These are natural draws for the UK’s extensive capability in pipeline and network design, pipeline monitoring, control, intelligent pigging, corrosion technology and protection systems among other things. In the oil and gas sector, the major international operators are maintaining a high level of investment – in Brazil for example, exploration and production expenditure will be in excess of $90 billion over the next four years as the country develops its new deepwater fields. Power generation, especially utilising renewables technology, is a growing energy sector, with major opportunities particularly in Western Europe, North America and China. UK suppliers, for example, our worldclass subsea engineering industry ought to be able to pick up a great deal of this business.

The sorts of energy projects that are coming forward are increasingly complex and require a combination of leading-edge technology and experience. Many are located in difficult, remote and environmentally sensitive places. The world is looking for more energy, cleaner energy and more secure energy. The UK energy industries have a lot to offer in these respects, but their abilities are not as well known, or recognised as they should be. That is why UK Trade & Investment, in collaboration with the energy industries, has devised a strategy to correct the situation.

The UK Energy Excellence Marketing Strategy was launched in December 2007. The Strategy’s aim is to provide a single, compelling message that the UK is the destination of choice for energy trade and investment. As the Strategy is implemented, success will be recognised by a number of indicators, including: an increase in R&D capability; an enhanced international reputation; a rise in investment and trade; job creation; increased revenues; improved customer satisfaction; and increasing diversification.

The implementation of the strategy is being lead by a UK Energy Excellence Board, comprising senior figures from the energy industries and government. The Board is chaired by Samir Brikho, CEO of AMEC. As an output of the strategy, a UK Energy Excellence website (www.ukenergyexcellence.com) has been set up to showcase to overseas buyers and investors what the UK energy sector can offer and an extensive suite of promotional and marketing material on UK Energy Excellence has been made available online to UK companies. UK Trade & Investment continue to work with the industry
to refine the UK Energy Excellence website further.

Another important output of the Strategy is the unified UK Energy brand that was launched in London on 17 March. This overall brand, along with a framework of associated messaging, unites all of the UK energy sector’s skills and capabilities within one distinctive identity. One of the most important roles of the UK Energy brand identity is to support the marketing and communications of UK energy businesses and related partner organisations like the SBGI.

The UK Energy Excellence Board and UK Trade & Investment are determined that the UK’s energy excellence be made known to the whole world. The UK Energy brand gives the UK industry greater focus, more consistency of message and makes the breadth of our professionalism and expertise more apparent. That expertise is world-class and comes with a global commitment to human and environmental protection. Any company that uses the UK Energy brand will be aligning itself with the key UK strengths of innovation, quality, adaptability, sustainability and knowledge, while declaring to the world that they are part of a world-beating UK team. UK energy companies should go to www.ukenergyexcellence.com/brand/brand-overview-movie/ and view the UK Energy brand movie (it takes a minute or two to load). Once you have seen that, download the brand guidelines, along with the messaging and start putting them to work for you.

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