10 December 2025
December Meeting, Virtual
Executive Summary
The taskforce meeting focused on GBE’s visibility, delivery confidence, skills and supply chain resilience to accelerate the energy transition.
Key Points of Discussion
(Summary only)
- Strategic Positioning: Strong presence in Aberdeen and clear communications on GBE’s role are essential. Local and community ownership must be reflected.
- Wider Project Delivery & Commercialisation: Progress in renewable deployment is rapid across the sector, but confidence in projects needs bolstering Capital remains the main barrier; collaboration and FLOW opportunities are critical.
- Skills & Workforce: Data-driven approach proposed to reduce risk and improve deliverability. Sub-group formed to advance regional skills work.
- Energy, Engineered in the UK: New GBE programme launched to secure UK supply chain opportunities. Taskforce invited to identify strategic interventions and job creation.
Attendees:
Members
- Alison Stuart – CEO, Nescan (AS)
- Allan Pirie – CEO, Ashtead Technology (AP)
- Bob Keiller – Chair of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and Our Union Street
- Bob Ruddiman – Co-Head of Energy, Burness Paull
- Dan McGrail – Chief Executive Officer, GBE (DM)
- David Whitehouse – CEO, OEUK (DW)
- Donella Beaton – Vice Principal, RGU (DB)
- Graeme Sword – Co-Chair of Taskforce
- Iain Anderson – Co-Chair of Taskforce (IA)
- Juergen Maier – Chair, GBE (JM)
- Maggie McGinlay – CEO, ETZ (MM)
- Michael Love – Head of Policy, Opito (ML)
- Myrtle Dawes – CEO, Net Zero Technology Centre (MD)
- Neil McCulloch – CEO, Adura / Spirit Energy
- Nicola McLeod – Director of Corporate Affairs, D2Zero (NM)
- Nick Dalgarno – Managing Director, Energy, Power & Infrastructure, Piper Sandler
- Reuben Aitken – Managing Director, Energy Transition and International Operations, Scottish Enterprise
- Roy MacGregor – Chairman, Global Energy Group (RM)
- Simon Roddy – SVP Upstream, Shell UK
- Steve Gray – CEO, Ventex (SG)
Invited Participants
- Georgina Garland – Head of External Affairs, GBE
- Guy Arnold – Deputy Director Supply Chain, GBE (GA)
- Martha Selwyn – Head of Social Sustainability, GBE (MS)
- Paul Addison - Director Policy and External Affairs, GBE
Secretariat
- Megan-Rose Duffy - External Affairs Lead, GBE
Apologies
- Jeff Corray – CFO, D2Zero & Head of Energy Private Equity, Piper Sandler
Welcome and Updates
IA – Welcomed new members (Alison Stuart, Nicola McLeod, and Reuben Aitken) as well as those who were unable to attend the first meeting.
IA outlined the engagement he and GS have had with members since the last meeting and shared the following key reflections:
- GBE’s focus on Aberdeen must feature more prominently in communications and all its activities
- Visibility in the city will be critical to GBE’s success
- Optimism and opportunity will both be essential
- GBE can provide capital and act as a catalyst for growth
MM – Emphasised the importance of recognising the challenges faced by companies within supply chains and the need to support them.
SG – Agreed on the need for better identification of supply chain actors and strategies to sustain them in the medium to long term, while acknowledging that the skills challenge is present and real.
RM – Highlighted the importance of not losing sight of the Highlands’ role within the wider ecosystem.
MD – Suggested it would be helpful to understand how GBE’s local energy component will operate.
AS – Requested that local and community ownership be better represented in the materials.
GBE Strategic Plan
DM – Presented details of the plan and highlighted the pace at which GBE has delivered, including the first investment and the EEUK launch.
DW – Stressed that projects are key. While opportunities are exciting, they are not yet at feasible price points. The biggest barrier remains capital. The taskforce should consider how to drive projects forward without relying on specific intervention, focusing on those that can deliver progress at scale. Confidence that projects will materialise needs bolstering, so collaboration will be critical. The FLOW competition is a good example of how this can work. The taskforce needs to work collectively on commercialisation.
DM – Agreed, confirming this is the approach GBE is taking. GBE will also seek to shape policy to accelerate progress, which will be crucial to success.
MM – Expressed support for the strategy, particularly around jobs and transition measures, which the taskforce should help GBE achieve. Commercialisation is vital, but the confidence gap is more urgent. The Taskforce should urgently consider how to support companies in the short term.
IA – Suggested convening supply chain companies for a ‘listen and learn’ session with GBE.
ACTION – IA, SG and MM to progress capability mapping.
AP – Highlighted that page 40 of the plan is the most compelling. Stronger communications are needed as there is still confusion about GBE’s role.
DM – Agreed. We need to emphasise relevance and target communications accordingly. Welcomed views on positioning.
AS – Urged not to overlook retrofit and demand reduction, as decarbonisation is critical. Local supply chain inclusion will also be important.
NM – Called for positive stories to legitimise the sector.
DM – Confirmed there is no intention of being exclusive; the priority is getting messaging right.
Community Outreach and Skills Update
ML – Positioned people and skills as a core enabler, noting the strong ecosystem already established in the North East around data and research capability. Emphasised that a data-driven approach should be the first step to reduce risk and ensure deliverability. The ‘ask’ to the taskforce is agreement on pricing and scoping for this element.
DB – Highlighted that GBE delivering this would benefit both GBE and Aberdeen, with much of the groundwork already completed during investment zone scoping. Stressed that skills should be viewed as part of the supply chain. Invited views from the group and requested taskforce permission to engage regional providers.
DW – Noted the need to work with the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to avoid duplication. Warned that project uncertainty could impact the skills agenda.
ML – Confirmed the approach will be regionally delivered but with national intent and designed to complement the work of the Office for Clean Energy Jobs.
NM – Supported the blueprint concept but cautioned that each area will face unique challenges. Urged clarity on short-term deliverables within the two-year framework and stressed the importance of communications to avoid alienating the existing workforce.
MM – Asked how this work can be truly additional.
AS – Reinforced that alignment and join-up are critical to avoid making this work exclusive.
DM – Thanked ML for leadership on this initiative. Emphasised the need for targeted work with tangible outcomes, preferring a “small and successful” approach over a “big bang.”
MS – Introduced herself as the GBE lead for this workstream.
ACTION – MS to convene a sub-group to advance this work (MS, DB, ML, AS, NM)
Energy Engineered in the UK and Investment
JM – Reflected on the wider landscape, acknowledged the challenges facing the sector, and offered solidarity. Encouraged the taskforce to take a leadership role in the city on energy and transition matters. Highlighted the significant opportunity, particularly in FLOW, if we get this right.
JM – Introduced ‘Energy, Engineered in the UK’, as a programme designed to pool GBE’s funding, resources, and convening power to ensure more of the future supply chain is built in the UK. Invited taskforce support for the initiative.
GA – Explained the pillar approach, developed to enable a proactive and strategic response to enable opportunities. Invited the taskforce to identify opportunities for job creation and UK intellectual property, noting that some ideas have already been shared.
IA – Emphasised the importance of governance, suggesting that the taskforce raise ideas with GBE for progression. Shared that he and GS met with Tim Cullen last week, who will join the next taskforce meeting.
DM – Welcomed strategic market interventions identified by the taskforce.
Note – IA and GS will lead engagement with members to identify these opportunities.
Action Log
- Megan-Rose Duffy to issue 2026 meeting dates with minutes (complete).
- Maggie McGinlay, Iain Anderson and Steve Gray to take forward supply chain capability mapping.
- Martha Selwyn to convene a sub-group to focus on advancing skills mapping work (MS, DB, ML, AS, NM) (in progress).
- Megan-Rose Duffy to issue Supply Chain slides (complete).
- All members to consider supply chain opportunities and strategic market interventions to share with GBE supply chain team.