Send us a text In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by Zoe Ogilvie of Big Partnership. Zoe, who recently semi-retired, shares her journey in marketing and communications, from her early days in Paris, to establishing the Aberdeen office of Big Partnership. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of growing a successful agency, the importance of company culture, leadership through communication, and the evolution of the PR and marketing industry. Zoe also touches on ...

Send us a text In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny is joined by Ian Ord of Fifth Ring, an Aberdeen-founded marketing communications business that has grown to serve clients globally. Ian shares his journey from aspiring accountant to advertising professional and the founding of Fifth Ring in 1993. He discusses the evolution of the agency from a generalist to a B2B specialist in the energy industry, its international expansion to Singapore and Houston, and the significant impact of the dig...

Send us a text In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley is joined by Phil Mote, CEO and co-founder of Well-safe Solutions. Phil shares his incredible journey from an apprentice at Halliburton to leading a company that's revolutionising the decommissioning sector in the oil and gas industry. Discover the challenges of starting a business from scratch, navigating market downturns like Covid and the EPL levy, expanding globally to Australia and Southeast Asia, and the importance of...

Send us a text In this episode of taproom talks Kenny is joined by Beena Sharma from CCU International. Beena shares her fascinating journey, from starting with a law degree to transitioning into the energy industry, and eventually co-founding CCU International. She discusses the challenges of commercialising carbon capture technology, the importance of carbon utilisation, and the misconceptions surrounding carbon capture and storage. Beena also talks about her work with Women in New En...

Send us a text In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley is joined by Colin Manson from Xergy Group, who shares his journey from chemical engineering to building successful businesses in the oil and gas industry. He recounts his early career at Enterprise Oil and Genesis, leading to the founding of Exodus in 2005, which rapidly grew to 750 people. Manson discusses the sale of Exodus to a Japanese company in 2013, reflecting on the challenges and lessons learned. He then details the crea...

Send us a text In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley sits down with Mark Skinner of Scotsbridge. Mark shares his journey from an apprentice mechanic to managing director of John Bell Pipeline, detailing how he and Brian Thompson grew the company and navigated the cyclical oil and gas industry. He also discusses the decision to sell John Bell Pipeline to Bianco Group and his subsequent role in internationalising their businesses, which ultimately led to the creation of Scotsbridge. ...

Send us a text In this powerful episode of Taproom Talks, host Kenny Dooley sits down with Steve Beedie of Unspoken Wounds. Steve shares his incredibly raw and honest journey, from a challenging childhood in Banff and joining the Army at 16, to enduring harrowing tours in Kosovo and Iraq. He recounts the traumatic experiences that led to his struggles with PTSD, including a deeply affecting incident in Kosovo and the murder of six RMP in Basra.Steve opens up about his multiple suicide attempt...

Send us a text This episode of Taproom Talks features Kenny Dooley in conversation with Davis Larrsen, the CEO of Proserv. Davis, with over 30 years in the energy industry, shares his journey from the North East of England to leading a global company headquartered in Aberdeen. He discusses his progression from a financial analyst at Schlumberger to CEO, crediting strong mentors and a willingness to embrace uncomfortable challenges. Davis also highlights Proserv's strategic pivot into renewabl...

Send us a text In this episode of Taproom Talks features Kenny Dooley in conversation with Tristam Horn, an energy entrepreneur and former drilling engineer who founded Delta Tech in 2015. Tristam shares the challenging journey of building Delta Tech from the ground up, navigating early R&D, funding struggles during the 2015 oil price crash, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his business and personal life. He discusses the critical role of organizations like the OGTC (now Net Zer...

Send us a text In this episode of Taproom Talks features Kenny Dooley in conversation with Ray Riddoch, a veteran of the UK oil and gas industry since 1981. Ray shares insights from his decades-long career, from working offshore and overseas to leading Nexen (later CNOOC) as the largest oil and gas producer in the UK. He discusses the evolution of leadership, the impact of significant events like Piper Alpha, the changing industry landscape, and the crucial role of technology and people in t...

Ever wonder how a guy goes from dusty limestone quarries to running a multi-million-pound business? Tune into this episode of Taproom Talks, where Kenny Dooley chats with Mick Beavers, the driving force behind Control Valve Solutions. Mick spills the beans on his incredible journey, kicking off in some seriously old-school quarries before building his empire. But it's not just about business wins. Mick gets real about his personal battles with mental health, sharing his story as a two-time...

On this episode of Taproom Talks, host Kenny Dooley sits down with NJ Ayuk JD, Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and organiser of Africa Energy Week. They delve into NJ's journey from civil rights lawyer to a key figure in the energy sector, discussing his personal background and the formation of Centurion Law Group. The conversation covers the challenges and rewards of building a Pan-African law company, including overcoming racial barriers.A significant portion of the discussion focuse...

In this episode of Taproom Talks, host Kenny Dooley sits down with Bob Keiller, Chair of Our Union Street and Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce. Bob shares his incredible journey, from his early career to transitioning into the oil and gas industry, and eventually leading a management buyout of part of Halliburton's business. He recounts the audacious move of approaching Halliburton's CFO to buy the production services division, the challenges of securing funding (including that mem...

In this episode of Taproom Talks, host Kenny Dooley sits down with James Gregg, a co-founder and European Regional Director of Motive Offshore Group. James shares the incredible story of Motive, from its humble beginnings in a car garage to becoming a global leader in offshore equipment, now employing 380 people. James takes listeners back to his roots in rural Cornhill, growing up around his dad's car garage, which unknowingly laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial spirit. He recount...

Welcome back to Taproom Talks! Today, our host Kenny Dooley sits down with David Sheret, the insightful founder of Sheret Offshore Energy. Join us as David recounts his fascinating career journey, beginning in marketing where he engaged with Aberdeen Football Club, and how that unique background eventually led him to establish his own strategic consulting and pre-screening firm in the dynamic world of offshore energy. David will unveil the distinct advantage of Sheret Offshore Energy. Discove...

Welcome to Taproom Talks! In this episode, our host Kenny Dooley sits down with Annabel Sall, the dynamic CEO of Think PR. Get ready to hear Annabel's remarkable story of building a leading energy-focused PR, marketing, and design firm from the ground up over 21 years.Annabel takes us back to the beginning, sharing her vision for Think PR: to champion SMEs in Aberdeen. You'll discover how she networked her way through the local business scene, securing her very first client, a connection she ...