The UK needs a clear strategic direction in order to advance its offshore capabilities. This was the message from Paul Flynn, CEO of specialist offshore energy recruiters Earthstaff, who told ELN that despite shortages of British candidates the future of our offshore industries could be bountiful, with the right approach.

Mr Flynn said: “Such an enormous amount of investment is needed. We may have lost our way with nuclear in the past- the danger is if we do this with offshore. There needs to be a strategic development plan. Britain is actually still in a very good place and is transferring its knowledge across the globe.”

DECC heralded a recent offshore licensing round as a major success and even though the golden age of 1970s North Sea oil looks a distant memory, Paul Flynn says there is plenty of life in the region yet, despite present shortcomings.

He told ELN: “While there is a skills shortage for engineering jobs over here, the big firms are in a global battle for talent. There is massive demand in West Africa and Russia and they’re still needed here… There’s a massive danger of a brain drain in the UK.”