“ Originally from Aberdeenshire and having spent the last 16 years working as a structural engineer in the commercial, transport and educational sectors based in Hong Kong, Newcastle and Glasgow, Kate Mitchell decided it was time to apply her skills to the oil and gas sector at this critical time in the energy transition, recently taking on a role at engineering firm PD&MS, based in Aberdeen.”
I joined PD&MS last summer as a Senior Project Engineer, having previously spent 16 years as a Structural Engineer for large engineering consultancy and design company Arup, working primarily on building projects. Knowing the rapid growth of the energy sector, and the focus of the oil and gas industry to adopt more sustainable solutions on the path to net zero, I decided to take a leap into the unknown and apply my project management and structural design experience to support energy firms that are both diversifying and exploring waste-to-energy projects.
I was raised on a farm in Aberdeenshire and had some exposure to the oil and gas industry as my Dad managed offshore projects, but professionally, it was new territory. I’ve been working on rig-reactivation projects since joining PD&MS, and while it’s proven to be extremely fast-paced and technically challenging, I’ve really enjoyed the learning that has come with it. From a cultural perspective, and as a female engineer, I’ve always been used to operating in a male-dominated environment, but it feels especially true for the oil and gas industry. Thankfully, I have an incredibly supportive team around me, and I am grateful for the knowledge they have shared and freedom they have granted me to make my mark and drive positive change for the wider team – particularly in the sense of implementing more efficient work practices and streamlining workflows to ensure more consistent quality deliverables.
Considering I’m still relatively new to the oil and gas industry, the professional projects I’ve been most proud of to date trace back my days as a structural engineer. From concept to construction, it was fantastic to be involved in the development of the Ruskin Square building in East Croydon, and it was at a time in my career where I had great role models and opportunities to push my personnel experience into more of a leadership role. I’ve always been passionate about developing young engineers and supporting young women who want to pursue a career in engineering, and I’m looking forward to honing these skills in my current role as the industry looks to bolster its workforce more broadly.
In fact, this is one of the reasons why I feel very positive about the energy industry’s future. The north-east of Scotland has always been at the heart of the UK oil and gas industry, and there are so many opportunities for engineers to move between sectors and specific disciplines, in turn allowing companies to develop more diverse workforces that bring new and innovative solutions. Coming from a different area of engineering myself, I’m proof that it’s possible to transfer your skills into a new industry that interests you and make a positive contribution.
Beyond the skills element and the jobs it supports, I believe that oil and gas is and should continue to be a key part of our future energy mix in the UK. It’s an essential resource that can work alongside renewables and cleaner forms of energy, allowing for a robust and resilient energy landscape. While we must accept that there are significant steps to take in order to improve efficiencies and methods of extraction, there are lessons to learn from other industries, and progress is already being made.
In terms of advice for someone looking to join the industry, I would say: don’t limit yourself. Before entering the world of oil and gas, I was apprehensive about joining an industry that I didn’t really know a lot about. However, having pushed myself out of my comfort zone, it’s clear that there are so many exciting opportunities out there, and you definitely don’t need you to know all the technical details from day one. It’s a very exciting time to be working in energy, and there is so much room to grow and evolve.
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