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NOF Energy: The Story 2013 is a special year for NOF Energy as it marks the 25th year in business, providing invaluable business development support for companies in the oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewables sectors.

In that time, the organisation has grown exponentially and made huge strides in establishing a robust and effective portfolio of business development services that provide support to its membership and wider energy sector supply chain network. NOF Energy has become synonymous with providing essential and effective business support to companies aiming to secure a share of new business opportunities.

This special Silver Jubilee Dinner at the Newcastle/Gateshead Hilton Hotel is supported by Strategic Event Partner GE Oil & Gas, to celebrate the achievements of the organisation and its members.

As always at an NOF Energy event there is plenty of time for networking.

The celebration is also supported by five Silver Star sponsors, who are all long-standing and supportive NOF Energy members. These include LV Shipping, Phusion IM (formerly Pearson-Harper), Bel Valves, Ward Hadaway and Darchem Engineering.

“We are very proud to reach this important milestone,” says George Rafferty, Chief Executive of NOF Energy.

“This celebratory event gives us not only the opportunity to look at our history but also to look forward to what will be a very positive future, not only for NOF Energy, but for our members as they increase their presence in established and emerging energy sectors.”

How did it all begin?

It’s difficult to believe that an initiative, which was triggered by a report commissioned by Northern Development Company, could still be alive and kicking after 25 years.

The longevity of the organisation is without a doubt a testament to the staff of NOF Energy both past and present and the loyalty of the membership who have continued to support the organisation.

It all started off with a meeting in 1988 involving all of the major fabricators in the region at that time - names like Whessoe, Redpath Dorman Long, Cleveland Bridge and AMEC led to the formation of the first Board of what was then the Northern Offshore Federation. Dennis Clark

became the first Chairman and held this role until 2007. His on-going commitment to the organisation is recognised even now by his current role as Honorary President.

Alastair Rodgers became the first Director of Northern Offshore Federation with Geoff Race taking on the role many years later with George Rafferty, current Chief Executive taking up post in 2005.

With fantastic support from organisations such as Northern Development Company, Tyne and Wear Development Company, Department of Energy and Climate Change and UK Trade & Investment the cluster grew at a pace.

Leaders from industry such as Shell, BP, Conoco, Texaco and Chevron were regular participants at Northern Offshore Federation events and even today we still have such strong support from the client community through our strategic partner network.

From the start networking events have been at the heart of NOF Energy and will continue to play a key role well into the next 25 years and beyond. If there’s someone you need to know in the industry they will, at some time or other, be found at one of our events.

And the international offering has gone from strength to strength; we now have over 100 market visits under our belt with members now active in most energy markets around the world.

Where we are today Now with 420 members and growing every year, NOF Energy continues to work closely with member companies to provide access to a vast network of contacts, raise their profile within the industry and help identify new business opportunities. However,

these days the membership is changing, we now have Strategic Partners from the leading Tier 1 and Tier 2 client community working with us.

Networking is at the heart of the NOF Energy philosophy and its team work exceptionally hard to bring members and contacts from within its network together whenever possible. With over 50 events organised each year there is always the opportunity to get together and network. The networking lunches often prove to be the starting point for many fruitful business relationships.

Its growing international presence has been very beneficial to a number of members and our Global Partner network means members have access to even greater support overseas.

George Rafferty the present Chief Executive has led the organisation since 2005 after it had evolved from the Northern Offshore Federation into simply NOF. His appointment has been a real catalyst for change within the organisation.

Originally heavily reliant on public funding, George was keen to implement a strategy that ensured the organisation could eventually become self-sufficient.

This began in 2007 when NOF Energy officially began trading and, by 2012, the business achieved financial viability and returned a modest surplus.

Alongside George there is Deputy Chief Executive Joanne Leng MBE and Clare Weirs, Director Business Services and a team of experienced and knowledgeable Business Development specialists. The organisation is not only fit for purpose, but sets the benchmark for industry-related membership organisations.

Working alongside its management team, NOF Energy has a board made up of some of the industry’s leading figures. Their experience and industry knowledge helps steer the organisation’s strategies. In 2007 when Dennis Clark stepped down as Chairman of the Board, Neil Kirkbride of Bel Valves stepped up. In 2012 Graham Payne took on the reigns and is now leading the organisation to a bright future. The Board remain fully supportive and is determined to see the organisation grow and prosper.

The board is representative of the sectors we are involved in, namely oil and gas, nuclear and offshore renewables. As the energy sector has evolved, so has NOF Energy. The past quarter of a century has seen continued growth in the oil & gas industry, the continued use of nuclear power and the emergence of renewable power resources such as offshore wind.

Since its inaugural National Conference in 2011 the organisation has been promoting the need for a balanced energy future and, in particular the need for supply chain companies to diversify products and services into other areas of the energy sector.

Over the last 25 years the organisation has had some considerable achievements, visited many countries, provided support for hundreds of businesses and helped generated millions of pounds worth of new business for members.

It is a message that has hit home with a great many member companies that are successfully working across multiple energy sectors, this is increasing the prominence of UK suppliers in a truly global industry.

Tonight’s Silver Jubilee Dinner is the latest milestone on the road to a very bright future for NOF Energy.

Currently, one of the key issues facing the sector is the potential skills gap as experienced workers come up to retirement age while not enough younger entrants have come into the industry.

NOF Energy is aiming to help address this challenge with the introduction in 2012 of its Military2Energy Careers service. Defence cuts are currently leading to substantial redundancies from the Armed Forces. However, the skills and competencies of military personnel make them ideal candidates for careers in the energy sector.

Sponsors Strategic Event Partner

Silver Star Sponsors