I grew up in Liverpool in the UK during the 1980s. On leaving school, it was clear that employment opportunities were few and far between, but I’d heard that the oil and gas industry was a great option for enthusiastic youngsters and I decided to make the move to Scotland.
At first it was extremely hard to break into the sector: I had no experience – which of course you couldn’t get without experience. I finally secured my first role with FSSL in Aberdeenshire, where I built inductive couplers for subsea control systems.
Qualifications aside, to this day I truly believe there is no better industry in the world for young people who possess an excellent work ethic and willingness to learn, to progress. If you’ve got these fundamentals you’ll do well.
By the early 90s, I secured a role with TETRA, a completion fluids company. It was a great opportunity for me and it was there that I was given my first supervisory role.
I’d been thriving with my new responsibilities when the firm announced it was seeking an operations manager for Saudi Arabia, an untapped market for the company. I was selected for the position and I’ve never looked back; I stayed with TETRA in Saudi Arabia for 22 years.
Throughout my career I’ve had many responsibilities, from logistics and procurement to sales and client relations. However, the highlight has definitely been my transfer to the Middle East – it’s taken me on a completely different path and has been an amazing learning curve.
Knowing that my employer had confidence in me to manage and develop both a team and, ultimately, a new business stream, was crucial for my progression. It’s something I’d say to any manager: give your team room to grow – the good ones will thrive, as will your company.
I began to seek a new challenge and, after speaking with Coretrax’s directors, I felt a young, dynamic company would suit me. I joined Coretrax in 2014, and my familiarity with the Middle East has been invaluable in growing the business in the region.
Starting up in any country comes with region-centric difficulties. It’s been extremely restrictive at points, but we’re about solutions, not problems – that’s why we’re here. The Middle East is a growth region for all service companies, particularly start-ups, but it takes time. We’re confident that Coretrax will continue to grow in the coming months and years. We now have four bases across Iraq, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
The industry has changed significantly during my time. For me, technological advancements have been the biggest change – from the use of computers in the workplace, to innovations that have revolutionised health and safety practices. The combination of technology and creative minds have enabled us to commence operations that would have been thought impossible not too long ago.
It’s the challenge that drives me forward. The servicing sector has, without a doubt, felt the pinch of the oil price slump. In Saudi Arabia it can feel like we’re in our own bubble, but recently the shockwaves have definitely been felt. Redundancies and postponed or cancelled projects are having an impact globally, but I believe that with true innovation and skilled people, the industry will bounce back, stronger than before.
