Skip to main content

Member News: Global Underwater Hub Reacts to Autumn Budget and North Sea Future Plan

November 27, 2025
Member News: Global Underwater Hub Reacts to Autumn Budget and North Sea Future Plan

Neil Gordon, chief executive of Global Underwater Hub, has reacted to the outcomes of the Labour Government’s Autumn Budget and the North Sea Future Plan.

“Following months of calls from industry, there will be disappointment that the Energy Profits Levy has been maintained. Without even providing short-term certainty for the Treasury, it fails to offer much needed stability for industry at a time when organisations need to plan and invest.

“However, the announcement in the North Sea Future Plan of a strategy to encourage new subsea tiebacks as part of existing fields and infrastructure has the potential to provide a much-needed boost to the UK’s subsea supply chain. This development is something that Global Underwater Hub, on behalf of its members, has advocated the UK Government for over the past year and we welcome its inclusion in the plan and hope it can restore industry confidence.

“Earlier this week, GUH launched its 2025 Business Survey, which highlighted the growing risk of the UK offshore energy supply chain relocating overseas due to frequent and prolonged project delays. The industry has become increasingly concerned about the viability of the UK’s offshore energy sector and the sustainability of the businesses and jobs that depend on it. The announcement of the North Sea Jobs Service will provide reassurance to the workforce and industry.

“The UK’s offshore sector has the capability and capacity to lead the world in innovation and excellence, but there needs to be certainty in order to invest and grow globally, or we risk losing highly specialised companies, jobs and export potential to international competitors.”

Global Underwater Hub is the leading trade and industry development body for the UK’s underwater sectors.  A member-led organisation, GUH represents the diverse range of businesses operating across the UK’s £9.4 billion underwater industry, facilitating cross-sector collaboration and growth.

Get in touch

AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

Contact Us
“

AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables
“

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
“

The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy
“

Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall
“

Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise