Industry body Subsea UK is holding a business breakfast on 27th of April at the Marcliffe at Pitfodels in Aberdeen to find out if the UK can find the skills and the resources to meet the explosive growth in the sector.

"The global subsea sector is expected to triple in the next four years," says Subsea UK chief executive, David Pridden. "We are already facing severe challenges in terms of finding the skills and resources to deliver and, unless these issues are seriously addressed, we will be unable to maintain our dominant position in the global marketplace."

Subsea UK which was set up to harness the UK's subsea experience and expertise currently represents over 120 companies in the sector, many of which are struggling to cope with existing demand for people, vessels and equipment.

The organisation has just launched a skills initiative which it hopes will attract an additional hundred engineers and a hundred engineering graduates into the sector as well as inspiring 10,000 school children to consider subsea oil and gas as an attractive career option.

However Pridden believes this is just a starting point and that the industry has to work much more collaboratively to develop real solutions to the current shortages.

"Across the whole oil and gas sector we are seeing the effects of skills shortages and the scramble for people is getting worse. We cannot simply carry on poaching from the existing pond; we have to increase that pond by bringing in new blood. Equally, the shortage of vessels and equipment is causing spiraling costs which are not sustainable and will affect the UK's competitiveness."

Subsea UK has recently commissioned a study with management consultants Arthur D Little to assess the growth of the UK's subsea sector. A study last year revealed that Britain is at the forefront of subsea technology and services worldwide and that the sector is one of the fastest-growing. The study determined that in 2004/5, the subsea oil and gas industry directly employed around 27,000 people and contributed about £3 billion to the UK economy. However, for the sector to grow and maintain its market leader status it needs to raise its profile both at home and abroad, enhance technology research and development and increase its skills base.

For more information, visit www.subseauk.co.uk