A partnership involving the University of Aberdeen’s expert archivists working with Total E&P UK and a number of other oil industry and government agencies features as a case study in a new publication from The National Archives.
The publication, entitled Corporate Memory – a guide to managing business archives is a guide to help businesses use their archives to explore new markets, provide legal and regulatory protection, and succeed in today's competitive markets.
Capturing the Energy is highlighted as an example of the many different ways companies are successfully using their archives, and the benefits of maintaining high quality records. The guide describes the project as an asset for the UK's offshore oil and gas industry which will enhance research and education programmes and capture the history of the industry for generations to come.
Siobhán Convery from the University's Special Libraries and Archives was a guest at a launch reception on Thursday 9 July at the House of Lords, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Archives and the National Council on Archives.
Speakers at the event included Sir Stuart Rose of Marks & Spencer plc, Professor Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England and Dame Stella Rimington, former head of MI5 and professional archivist, who all promoted the value of archives to senior representatives of the business sector.
Professor Christopher Gane, Vice Principal at the University of Aberdeen, expressed the University's delight at this recognition for Capturing the Energy, saying: "We have very much enjoyed working with Total and the other partners on this fascinating venture. This project is especially significant in the way it brings together the skills of Siobhán and other members of our dedicated team of curators with a major offshore operator, and a commitment to preserve, for future generations, information about an industry which shaped not only our local and national economy but also the cultural development of the communities of the east coast of Scotland."
Christine Jones, Issues Manager, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications for Total E&P UK Limited added: ''Total believes that archiving and making public some significant corporate records can greatly improve understanding of the heroic achievements of the oil and gas industry. Access to this knowledge improves dialogue between industry, the general public and government and can also significantly influence students to see the exciting potential of a career in the industry, which will be to everyone's advantage as security of energy supply becomes even more important to us all."