Shale gas supply chain events call

Lancashire for Shale, a group of businesses that supports the development of shale gas in the county, has announced it will be staging Getting Ready for Shale following the recent decision by the Government to approve exploratory shale gas activity on the Fylde.

The purpose of the events is to create a forum that allows local firms to engage better with gas exploration firm Cuadrilla as the sector is set to grow.

The events will feature expert speakers from America, Scotland’s offshore sector, Lancashire’s business community and Cuadrilla.

Cuadrilla has consistently said over the past three years that, where possible, it would like to see Lancastrian businesses maximise the benefits from its activities. In 2014, Cuadrilla, along with UKOOG, the national representative trade body for the onshore sector, and the North West Energy Task Force hosted the UK’s first ever supply chain conference in Blackpool for over 300 businesses, which heard a UK shale gas industry could generate up to £33bn worth of spending for the wider supply chain and create nearly 4,000 jobs.

The Getting Ready for Shale series will also publish position papers, which will help county firms identify commercial opportunities in the county’s emerging supply chain for the onshore gas sector.

Lancashire for Shale will host events for business services, hospitality and leisure, construction and engineering.

Tim Freshney, managing director of engineers WJF Technical Support, said: “The shale gas sector is the future – giving our county a fantastic opportunity to create new jobs and generate much-needed investment. I call on local firms of all sizes to get involved.”