Solutions Store's Spence to Present at SPE Workshop

People development expert to present at unique event set to examine discrimination in the oil and gas industry.

Emma Spence, the founder and director of the people development consultancy, Solutions Store, will present at the Society of Petroleum Engineer’s first of its kind event which is to focus on workplace discriminatory challenges affecting the oil and gas industry.

The workshop, ‘Breaking the Cycle of Discrimination - Workplace Challenges in the Oil and Gas Industry’, which will take place October 1-2 at Norwood Hall Hotel, Aberdeen, is set to bring oil and gas professionals together to discuss the discriminatory issues present in the industry.

A keynote address by Minister for Energy, Fergus Ewing MSP will launch the two-day workshop, followed by a presentation from Mike Duncan, Director of Skills Development Scotland. Emma Spence will be joined by speakers from a number of major operating and service companies which include Shell, ConocoPhillips (COP), Halliburton and Schlumberger (SLB).

Emma Spence, Director of Solutions Store, said, “This thought-provoking workshop represents an exciting breakthrough in opening up the discussion of discrimination in the oil and gas sector. It offers a rare platform to examine the many discriminatory issues affecting the industry and gives a voice to those who feel passionately about stamping them out.

“Gender inequity is one of the most widely publicised discriminatory issues in the predominately male orientated energy sector, however, cultural diversity, age and religious prejudice are all issues of significant importance and ones that the industry must work together to eliminate.

“Bright talent and an industrious character should be the key qualities that a company takes into consideration when attracting and retaining its people.

“I think new talent should be a big focus for the future and how we attract and develop talent needs to be addressed opposed to continually shopping for experience as if we don’t create avenues to gain experience we will run short quite quickly.”

The Society of Petroleum Engineer’s workshop aims to encourage attendees to share industry best practice, lessons learnt and new ideas through technical presentations, which will include case studies and Q&A sessions.