As summer holidays come to an end, now is the time to start thinking about the north-east’s biggest and best events.
It is now just six weeks until the main event of the season celebrating the north-east’s energy sector takes place.
The first Saturday of October marks the tenth incarnation of the much loved annual Press and Journal Energy Ball.
Aberdeen Journals editor-in-chief Damian Bates said it was important people took time to celebrate the resilience and dynamism of an industry which continues to sustain the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands.
He said: “There is no doubt the industry has been facing some real difficulties but now, more than ever, it is important to get together to remind ourselves how far we have come. While the industry has been adapting to new realities, we should grasp the chance to build new relationships and also relax, enjoy ourselves and celebrate.
“This is the tenth year that the event has taken place and it remains the best night of the year for the industry to show all the doom-mongers the sector is still very much alive and kicking, and will be with us for decades to come.”
While the focus of the black-tie event is about socialising and networking, it will also raise much needed funds for important support for the energy sector.
Money raised at the 2016 Energy Ball will be donated to the Oil Chaplaincy Trust Fund.
The Oil Chaplaincy Trust Fund was set up in 1990 and is managed by the UK Oil and Gas Chaplaincy.
It provides money for oil workers past and present and their dependents who are struggling financially due to injury, illness or mobility issues.
The Rev Gordon Craig, chaplain to the UK oil and gas sector, said: “I am really looking forward to going to the Energy Ball this year.
“It is tremendous that people can get together at a social event which also supports those who are facing hard times.
“The Oil Chaplaincy Trust Fund was established to financially support oil workers and their families facing difficult times through no fault of their own. Therefore the money raised at this event will certainly be put to good use.”
Wings For Warriors, a charity which helps injured servicemen and women find a future worth fighting for, will also be supported by Energy Ball 2016.
Mark Abbey, regional director at CHC Helicopter, the event’s title sponsor, said: “The Energy Ball is a fantastic event which, as a long-established player in the industry, we are delighted to be supporting.
“It provides a forum for celebrating the achievements of Scotland’s energy sector and the chance to meet people whose passion and determination is driving the industry forward, in what we all know have been challenging times.”
Last year, more than 700 people attended the glitzy event at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre to enjoy a sensational dinner and spectacular entertainment.
Energy Ball 2016 tickets are now on sale and can be booked through the event website at www.energyball.co.uk.
