Kirsty Blackman, MP for Aberdeen North will headline the Instrumentation Scotland & Offshore Systems exhibition, to be hosted at the AECC, Aberdeen from 31 August – 1 September
In addition to bringing together the many companies that supply products and services specific to the offshore sector, the event also focuses on test, measurement and control equipment for North East Scotland’s other key industries, including processing, power generation, paper, distilling, water and waste, marine engineering and more.
Kirsty will be at the show on the second day (1 September) to give a headline talk in the seminar theatre, before meeting with visitors and exhibitors to discuss what is important to them. Neil Mead, managing editor of the Industrial Division at organiser, Datateam Business Media explains: “With so many job losses in the oil and gas sector, the focus of Kirsty’s seminar programme is ‘new opportunities for growth and the importance of transferrable skills’. She will speak about current challenges and highlight the support, help and advice available to those working in the oil and gas sector, in addition to discussing the opportunities represented by North East Scotland’s other key industries.”
Kirsty was elected to parliament in 2015 with an impressive 56.4 per cent of the vote. Prior to this, she was the SNP councillor for Hilton, Stockethill and Woodside in Aberdeen. First elected in 2007 to represent the area at council level, Kirsty was re-elected in 2012 and stood down after becoming a parliamentarian.
Kirsty is the SNP Spokesperson on the House of Lords and is interested in a range of constitutional topics. Kirsty is particularly interested in all issues that affect her constituents in Aberdeen and is keen to be accessible and help all those who live in her constituency.
Commenting on the importance of the exhibition, Kirsty says: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to speak at the Instrumentation Scotland and Offshore Systems exhibition. The offshore industry in Aberdeen is facing a difficult recovery following the significant, sustained reduction in the oil price. Operating in a super mature basin is not yet well understood and companies in the UKCS are leading the way. In order to ensure Aberdeen, Scotland and the UK continue to benefit from being a centre of excellence for both offshore operations and subsea work, we need to ensure that our companies are well supported, assisted to exploit new opportunities, and given the opportunity to be flexible.
“Events like this one, which will have a focus on new opportunities for growth and the importance of transferrable skills, will help highlight how we can secure a longer term future for businesses and the jobs they create.”
Event director, Kathryn Ambrose comments: “Instrumentation Scotland & Offshore Systems provides both visitors and exhibitors with an excellent way to network within their own region, and the chance to understand each other’s requirements and needs. Having Kirsty there is sure to attract a lot interest from businesses, visitors and press all of whom are keen to find solutions to the many problems the offshore sector in particular is facing.””
Instrumentation Scotland & Offshore Systems is free to attend; for more information and to register visit instrumentation.co.uk
