If the spirit of SNS2026 could be bottled, here it is. 🍶
⚡The energy, positivity, collaboration and purposeful atmosphere of our flagship two-day conference and exhibition – this year celebrating our 25th anniversary – has been potted and served up with gusto in the latest episode of Eastern Promise.
It’s a must-listen today👂
Mike Rigby visited the day after the region that keeps the nation’s lights on had laid out its expertise, ambition, potential and heritage with pride to energy minister Michael Shanks.
The minister listened, took notes, met people delivering on our energy needs day to day, chatted to young people and enjoyed it so much he made his own video about his time in the East of England, before heading off to tour Bacton Gas Terminal and taking messages from the East of England back to Westminster for us.
For this podcast, Mike spoke to a range of our exhibitors, who reflected the diversity of businesses who took stands in our exhibition hall, spoke on our conference stage and used the event to catch up with contacts and make new connections.
This captures what our annual event, and EEEGR, is all about – working together and fitting together into one cohesive region that speaks in one voice to achieve great things for the region and for the UK.
In unity, comes strength, from strength and single focus comes results.
The podcast ends with reflections from our chair and member of the North Sea Future Board Kevin Keable.
Among the messages that came through loud and clear to the minister, were skills. He returned to Westminster fully aware of the big skills issue this region faces now and in the future.
The minister witnessed the gas industry out in force at the event – and heard part of Jonathan “Jo” White of Perenco‘s speech when he arrived, and took notes.
The industry is hoping for a change in the government’s stance on North Sea drilling and producing more homegrown gas in the long energy transition ahead.
“This transition is 30 to 40 years long – and will it really end because we will always be in transition from one fuel to another?” he says.
And the final message for Westminster from SNS… “Our region needs to reindustrialise and build the kit we need for projects in our region.”
Much to do and we’re getting on with doing it…
Next stop in reinforcing our story is at the premier forum for the international offshore wind industry (never forget the east of England was a world leader in offshore wind) at RenewableUK‘s Global Offshore Wind, where the East of England partners will be out in force on Stand C81.
Thanks for coming Mike Rigby and Eastern Promise. Until next year….