Hi, I’m Scott. I grew up in Inverurie, not too far from Aberdeen. I loved maths and science at school as they sparked my interest and love of solving problems.

I studied Mechanical and Subsea Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, which was a great blend of applying mathematical theory to real life, engineering situations. I enjoyed my time at university as it’s a great place to meet new people and gain life experiences, as well as educational ones!

During my time at university, I had the chance to visit a warm stacked drilling rig on the Cromarty Firth. Experiencing what it was like to be on a rig and getting to see how the subjects I was studying were put into practice was amazing - I knew I was on the right path.

I now work as a Drilling Engineer, on the Mauritania and Senegal project at bp. An engineering degree is so transferable. It’s great to have the opportunity to apply those same skills in other areas across the energy mix. My job allows me to work on collaborative projects and it’s really cool to be able to play a small part in the energy transition.

In my own life, I use a lot of the skills I learned at university. University teaches you new ways of working and learning as well as other communication skills like teamwork and presenting your findings clearly. Having this foundation of operating in different environments and with various groups of people, it’s set me up well for working life. It’s important to remember though – you don’t need to know everything immediately!

I look up to those who are successful yet grounded – I think being approachable is a key trait for training and encouraging the next generation of energy engineers. I always think, ‘they were just like me once – so there’s no reason I can’t be like them in the future!

Over the next phase of my career, I want to make sure that I maintain and grow upon my strong technical foundation and really understand and apply all the different engineering concepts involved in the industry. My favourite experience so far has been travelling out to work offshore on a drilling rig West of Shetland. The responsibility and way of working offshore is challenging but so rewarding - I can’t wait until I have the opportunity to go out again and one day, hopefully, lead my own offshore operation.

A misconception I hear about working in the energy industry is that it’s old fashioned and out of touch, and not considerate of the environment. In reality, it is such a diverse sector – full of complex kits, new and advanced technology to help achieve net-zero targets, and a great group of minds working together from different backgrounds to tackle climate change. The energy industry is changing, with more and more renewable energy developments being given the go-ahead, including offshore wind and CCUS projects. Carbon emissions and how we can reduce them are now included in early scopes of work/design, alongside the usual factors like budget and resources required.

In the coming years, I think there will be an acceleration of the wider energy industry. With the electrification of operations, offshore wind expansion and more CCUS projects becoming viable – the renewables industry will thrive.

My top tip for anyone wanting to get their start in the energy sector would be to discover what interests them and learn more about the skills needed to get involved in that area. As having a passion for something makes it easier to learn, this is the best way to get involved! And remember – everyone had a first day at some point – so don’t be afraid to ask questions in any new jobs or courses!

My Energy Future is a great platform to get more people involved in STEM - the skills of the future. We need to keep developing new technology to help us on the journey to net-zero, and so young people need to have the opportunity and desire to gain the skills and knowledge to progress the energy transition.