A new report from Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) warning that Britain risks losing offshore energy investment, jobs and industrial capability to competing global markets will be launched at the organisation’s final flagship Breakfast Briefing of 2026. Taking place just days after the government’s Autumn Budget, the Deloitte-sponsored event will be held at P&J Live in Aberdeen on 10 November.
Geopolitical turbulence is reshaping the global energy map, intensifying competition for the capital, skills and industrial capability embedded across the offshore energy spectrum; built over decades in the North Sea, the UK’s world-class supply chain is increasingly competing for investment and opportunity on an international stage.
Against this backdrop, OEUK’s latest Supply Chain Report finds that just 35% of companies are confident about the next 12 months, while 8 in 10 expect a greater share of future investment and growth to take place outside the UK. Yet 95% believe they could increase capacity if UK activity rose. As confidence wanes, the risk is that people, investment, equipment and specialist capability move towards markets offering firmer workloads and stronger returns, leaving them harder and more costly to secure when UK projects are ready to proceed.
The report’s findings paint a stark picture of the UK supply chain landscape and reinforce the case for maintaining a strong homegrown energy industry. Where confidence exists, investment follows; without it, the UK risks losing not only economic value and investment, but the skilled people, specialist expertise and industrial capability built up over decades in the North Sea. Drawing on evidence from across its extensive offshore energy supply chain network, OEUK identifies the pressures shaping investment and delivery decisions, and the action needed to anchor that world-class capability in the UK as the country competes for its place in a lower-carbon global energy future.
Delegates will hear fresh evidence and practical perspectives across four key themes:
- The state of the UK supply chain: the first presentation of OEUK’s latest evidence on confidence, capability, jobs and growth.
- Competing for investment: what the UK must change to attract capital and turn project ambition into contracted work.
- From global capital to UK projects: what investors need to see before backing UK opportunities.
- Who will build it? Leaders from ports, engineering and supply chain businesses will assess whether Britain has the capacity, skills and infrastructure to deliver.
OEUK’s Supply Chain and People Director, Katy Heidenreich comments:
'This is not just another discussion about the opportunity. It is about the practical choices needed to turn the UK’s offshore energy strengths into investment, skilled jobs and long-term growth. It’s a discussion about who captures that value, and how government and industry can work together to ensure more projects, expertise and economic benefit are secured here in the UK.'
Businesses across the offshore energy economy are invited to join the discussion and secure their place now.
Featured speakers include:
- Neil McCulloch, Chief Executive Officer, Adura
- Angela Fletcher, Chief Commercial Officer, North Sea Midstream Partners
- Stuart Payne CBE, Chief Executive, North Sea Transition Authority
- Ashley Coaker, Vice President, Energy & Chemicals, Worley
- Joe Seifert, Vice Chairman, Citi
- Angela Hepworth, CEO, Scottish Renewables
- Julian Walker, Chief Commercial Officer & Regional Director, Associated British Ports (ABP)
- Steve Gray, Managing Partner, Ventex
- Katy Heidenreich, Supply Chain & People Director, Offshore Energies UK
- David Whitehouse, CEO, Offshore Energies UK
This Breakfast Briefing will take place from 07.00 – 10.00 am. Booking details are available here
Source: OEUK
