Member Article

NOF Energy to boost startups with new business development service

Durham-based NOF Energy is offering a new service to startup companies in the energy industry.

The business development organisation for oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewables sectors, is launching a new membership band for businesses, which have been trading for less than 12 months.

The subscription for the new band represents a reduction of more than a third on usual membership rates, but brings with it all the benefits of NOF Energy membership.

These include: targeted networking opportunities, one-to-one business support and advice from NOF Energy’s team, personalised introductions to industry contacts and referrals to other businesses in the network with an overseas presence for advice and assistance to trade internationally.

It also includes, regular industry and sector updates, presentations on industry related issues, heavily discounted rates to attend events, subsidised industry reports, inclusion in the NOF Energy Supply Chain Directory, and support from a professional public relations company.

The new startup band has been introduced in response to changing market conditions and to extend NOF Energy’s services to emerging business models.

The business development organisation has already welcomed its first new member to the service; Optima Asset Maintenance Solutions (OAMS), an Aberdeen-based company, has joined NOF Energy after being referred by Andy Rhodes, the Managing Director of an existing member, Project Design Group.

OAMS was established at the end of 2015 by three engineers who had lost their jobs in the oil & gas industry, following the downturn in oil prices. The team decided to go it alone and utilise their combined asset maintenance skills and capabilities to provide cost-effective solutions to companies in industry.

Leslie Moyo, one of the founding members of OAMS, said: “NOF Energy provides a number of networking and business opportunities that are extremely valuable to start-ups. We have only been a member for a short period of time; however, have already started to reap the benefits of NOF Energy’s industry contacts.

“Cash flow is one of the most important factors to the success of small business and the reduced rate, which is being offered to companies that have been trading for less than 12 months, enabled us to access the group.”

NOF Energy business development manager Paul Livingstone explained: “Due to the downturn in the oil & gas industry a number of former employees of operators and contractors in the sector are starting their own businesses and will be well placed to take advantage of the opportunities that will arise during the upturn.

“NOF Energy is keen to offer its high quality business development services to these businesses and to help them survive, succeed and grow.

“We recognise that these new businesses will play a vital role in revitalising the energy industry, by introducing new technology and business models which are closer to the consumer model.

“We also recognise that while start-up businesses need support and benefit hugely from the introductions and contacts, along with the many forms of support, that NOF Energy membership brings, they also have to tightly control their overheads, which is why we are offering the new start-up rate for their first all-important year of trading.’’