OilVoice | All-Energy Exhibition

All-Energy Exhibition - Aberdeen

All-Energy ‘08, the UK’s largest renewable energy exhibition and conference, opens in Aberdeen, 21-22 May 2008.

Over 3,000 registrations have been recorded. More than 360 exhibiting companies from home and overseas will be showcasing products and services to every sector of the renewable industry. Additionally, and importantly, All-Energy is set to stimulate much highly topical discussion.

"The conference will be addressing many of the key issues currently concerning the industry. These range from recruitment and filling the increasing number of jobs in the growing industry to how to get more wind turbines into the supply chain; from reaching the EU’s 2020 targets to the highly topical issue of ‘fuelling or feeding the nation’; and from creating value from the mitigation of climate change, to low carbon building aims and requirements, and much, much more," explains project director Judith Patten of Media Generation Events, who organise the annual event in partnership with Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. "We’ve a packed two days, during which the conference covers all sources of renewable energy and the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. And, there are plenty of both!

"Take careers as one example. We have a conference session 'Skills – getting the right people: The Great Debate' which we hope a very diverse audience will attend - we are eager to see all manner of people taking part in the discussion including qualified engineers considering a switch in careers to join this rapidly expanding industry; careers teachers who will then be able to offer their students practical advice; university students about to graduate; members of the building trades eager to develop a new skill... The line-up for the session is evidence of the far ranging discussion that is expected to ensue:

- Chair: David Rodger, Aberdeen - Renewable Energy Group
- Panellists:
- Keynote scene setting address - Nicol Stephen MSP
- Looking at training schemes - James Brown, Skills Director Scotland, Energy & Utility Skills
- The size of the skills gap and what the industry is doing about it - Henning von Barsewisch, Managing Director, REpower UK and chair of BWEA's Skills & Education Strategy Group
- 'Been there, done that' - David Cameron, Chief Technical Officer, Scottish Renewables talks about his experience of re-training; and also about SRF initiatives
- The view from academia - Professor Paul Mitchell, University of Aberdeen
- 'What's on offer'- Neil Daly, Director, Hamilton Consultants provides a broad view of what is happening from a wide recruitment perspective
- Discussion and Q&A

After the conference session on 21 May, there will be a networking reception in the Jobs Zone in the show, an area where prospective employers and employees can mix and mingle; and where job openings will be posted alongside CVs from potential employees.

"What’s more, earlier in the day, one of our exhibitors, IMarEST, will have staged a 'CV Workshop' sponsored by Castrol Marine and held in association with The Robert Gordon University, to ensure that students’ CVs are fully up to the mark," adds Judith Patten. "So, All-Energy ’08 is delivering a very complete package."

Aberdeen City and Shire is the host sponsor of All-Energy '08, which is held in association with the British Wind Energy Association, Scottish Renewables Forum and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, with The Society for Underwater Technology as the learned society patron, sponsors including The Carbon Trust and Renewable Energy Association and 25 supporting organisations.

The All-Energy exhibition and conference is free to attend for all with a business/professional interest in renewables; and those eager to join the industry certainly fit the bill. Online registration is open at www.all-energy.co.uk