Reputation of energy sector is outdated, claims expert

The reputation of the energy sector in the eyes of many people in the UK is outdated and should be changed, in the opinion of one firm's chief executive. George Rafferty, who holds the position at NOF Energy, has told the Gazette Live that the image of the industry is some way from the reality in the modern day and he has opted to back a campaign to persuade people to change their perception of it. In particular, he believes many individuals view the oil and gas markets as "dirty and dangerous", when this is simply not the case. Mr Rafferty explained: "NOF Energy is putting its weight behind this campaign, to get the message across that this is a key industry. We need to change the perception. People think it's a sunset industry that's going away - nothing could be further from the truth. "We need to get the message across that it's still a major economic contributor, not only to the regional economy but the national economy." The Energising the Nation's Future campaign, which has been set up by Oil and Gas UK, is aimed at encouraging all workers in the energy sector to spread the word about the importance of this industry. Such a movement could even persuade some people to seek the qualifications and experience they need to embark upon a career in this area. Energy jobs can be among the most rewarding and stimulating in the country. One of the major priorities of the campaign is to promote the role of energy in a variety of sectors, with particular focus on its ability to drive innovation in science, technology and engineering in the UK. Mr Rafferty is now stepping up the bid to ensure better policies are put into place to boost the energy market, while awareness of oil and gas must be improved and people educated about the vital part it plays in the nation's economic fortunes.