Four North East Oil And Gas Industry Leaders Reach Finals in Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise

Companies from the oil and gas industry who are providing services and new technologies to the global industry sector have landed four nominations in the 8^th annual Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise. Romar International Ltd, TWMA, Walker Technical Resources and C & M Group Ltd, have landed nominations in the Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation and The Alick Buchanan Smith Spirit of Enterprise Award categories.

Newburgh based Romar International Ltd is a finalist in the Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation which recognises businesses that demonstrate an innovative approach to the development of a product or service. Set up in 2000, the company's principal business activity is the design and production of unique magnetic system products for removing metal contamination from drilling fluids on and offshore. This year, the company is projecting turnover to double from 2006, with developments including a new product due for roll out mid-2007. Romar International has grown from two founding directors to now employing four permanent staff and has progressed as a young company to supplying its products to Europe, USA, Canada, Africa, Australia and the Balkan States.

Robbie Gray, Commercial Director of Romar International Ltd says, "Our aim when setting up the business was to provide innovative magnetic products and services to operators and drilling contractors. We pride ourselves on the range of unique systems which we have invented for use in oil and gas drilling applications. Being a finalist in the Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation category goes a long way to show that smaller companies like Romar International can have just as important a role to play as larger companies, if they have the right products."

Also nominated in the Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation is Walker Technical Resources (WTR). Set up in the early 1990s, WTR offers a cost - effective and reliable pipe repair service which is highly regarded in the oil and gas industry. The company has also developed some of the most advanced composite products in its field – trademarked 'Technowrap'. In 2006, WTR became the only oil and gas service company to achieve Business Standard Institute (BSI) Integrated Management Registration (IMR) and Lloyd's Register Type Approval for a composite pipe repair system, and this year it is projected that the business will take on an additional three employees. WTR currently provides services in the North Sea, Norway, Africa, Canada and Qatar, and has an enviable client list which includes BP, Shell, Exxon Mobil and Chevron Texaco.

Graham Birnie, Managing Director of Walker Technical Services says, "WTR has had a successful year, receiving accolades and recognition for our innovative composite products and services. These acknowledgments have been reaffirmed with our nomination in this year's Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise, and are testament to the calibre of staff at WTR. It is one of the company's aims this coming year to enhance the in-house training already given, and to establish a recognised apprenticeship scheme for school leavers. Our plans for the future also include the development of partnership working and joint ventures to further grow the business."

TWMA, also a finalist in the Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation category, is a world leader in the handling and treatment of waste generated by drilling operations. The company has offices in Aberdeen, Peterhead, Egypt, Nigeria and Shetland, with 160 staff worldwide and achieved a turnover of £12 million in 2006.

Ronnie Garrick, managing director of TWMA, said: "TWMA has many years experience in the handling and treatment of hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings and other drilling waste materials. TWMA is the only company in the world to process these cuttings offshore using thermal technology, separating them into their constituent parts of water, oil and solids, all of which can then be recycled.

"Drilling related waste, from both onshore and offshore operations, represents an increasing problem for the oil and gas industry. These wastes vary widely and include non-hazardous recyclable materials, low volume toxic materials and drill cuttings. There is global responsibility on companies to dispose of their drilling waste materials in a safe and environmentally sound way, TWMA provides a reliable and cost-effective way of doing this. We look forward to the award evening and celebrating all the company's recent successes."

C & M Group Ltd is a finalist in the Alick Buchanan Smith Spirit of Enterprise Award category, for businesses that started trading before 1st June 2002, which can demonstrate commitment to the community in which they operate. C & M Group Ltd provides a widen range of specialist electrical and marine engineering services to the oil and gas industry. Established more than 30 years ago, C & M Group has undergone dramatic changes from restructuring the business to establishing offices overseas, and this year sees the launch of its first multi-purpose support vessel – the Ice Maiden I. The company has evolved through this extraordinary period of growth, and is expected to substantially increase its staffing levels from 80 to 300 during 2007.

Alisdair Harrison, Group Commercial Director of C & M Group Ltd says, "We are delighted with our nomination in this year's Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise, following our win in last year's Business Growth category. To maintain our outstanding success of previous years we have had to improve our internal systems and procedures, and introduce new corporate policies that accurately reflect C & M's new status. Whilst keeping the 'can do' attitude, which has helped to grow the company from a £2m turnover to a £50m turnover business in the past three years, we have been devoting great deal of attention to staff training and development. We will also be employing researchers, IT managers, quality & HSE,human resources and a raft of project managers. This forthcoming year, C & M plans to announce its involvement in several major ground-breaking projects, which offers an exciting prospect for the future!"

Chris Travis, Chief Executive of Enterprise North East Trust says, "The Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise are designed to commend business achievement in the north east. The success of these finalists demonstrates that regardless of your company size if you have the right people, the best products and the motivation, you can compete not just on a local scale but internationally too."

The Awards recognise business achievement in companies of all sizes and enterprising individuals and are organised by Enterprise North East Trust (ENET), which delivers Business Gateway services in the north-east on behalf of Scottish Enterprise Grampian, sponsors of the event along with The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

Stuart Heslop, director of commercial banking Aberdeen for RBS says, "Ground-breaking, dynamic and committed are the buzz words which could be used to describe the four oil and gas finalists in this year's awards. As a naturally innovative sector, it is not surprising that the finalists in the Sir Ian Wood for Innovation category are oil and gas companies, because they have such pioneering, high quality products. It is also good to see previous award winners C&M Group nominated again this year, as commendation for their commitment to the community in which they operate, and investment into the development of their staff."

Winners will be announced at a black tie awards ceremony on Thursday 7 June 2007 at Ardoe House Hotel in Aberdeen. Simon Woodroffe, founder of YO! Sushi will be the key note speaker at the prestigious event. All finalists will receive a certificate with category winners picking up a coveted enterprise award and cheque for up to £5,000.

Winners from last year's awards include Capture Imaging, TSMarine (Contracting) Ltd, C & M Group and NovaBiotics.

Tickets cost £80 per guest (plus VAT) or £800 (plus VAT) for a table of ten. The event begins with a champagne reception at 7pm, with carriages at 12.30 am. Tickets for the event can be booked by calling 01467 672535, or emailing events@enetrust.com.

The Business Gateway service in Grampian is delivered on behalf of Scottish Enterprise Grampian by Enterprise North East Trust. For more information telephone 01224 289725 or visit www.bgateway.com.

Picture Caption: Graham Birnie, Managing Director of Walker Technical Services. The company has been named as a finalist for the Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation at this year's Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise.

John McIntosh

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Tricker PR

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