OAA Finalist Returns to Shortlist for Second Year
January 2018
Aberdeen company Step Change Engineering is no stranger to the Offshore Achievement Awards. Making the shortlist in the Great Company (SME) category for the second year running, the engineering, procurement and project management company has rapidly grown since the company's inception, creating over 50 jobs in the process. So it's a warm welcome back to Step Change Engineering, and we were delighted to catch up with Managing Director, John Wilson on what it means to them.
Congratulations! It's great to have the Step Change Engineering team back as a Great Company (SME) finalist for the second year in a row! How does it feel to be nominated?
"It was totally unexpected. We know we have done some incredible things, and our rapid growth is a reflection of that, but there are some incredible businesses out there and this is, therefore, somewhat of a shock."
You've been a supporter of the Offshore Achievement Awards for the past few years by submitting nominations. What do you see as the main benefit for Step Change Engineering being nominated in awards such as these?
"First and foremost, it is recognition of the effort and dedication of all those people that work with us, as well as the faith that our clients have put into what we deliver and how we do it. Secondly, It is an opportunity to gain further market exposure. As a self-funded business, we have very little budget to spend on marketing and brand awareness and this award helps with that tremendously."
As a finalist in the Great Company (SME) category, what do you think is the most important thing that small and medium-sized companies need to get right when they are starting out in the industry?
"You need to make sure you have a differentiator that the market wants. Do your research and don’t embark on the venture if you don’t have sufficient faith in your proposition. The market is tough and your vision needs to be clear and concise in order to get the message to the market."
And speaking of that vision, where would you hope to see Step Change Engineering in the next 5 years?
"What we don’t want is to become a major Tier 1 contractor. We value our size and ownership with the flexibility and desire that this provides. We do however wish to expand into other geographical areas. I would suggest that having more than 150 people in any single location removes the ability to manage (what I class us as) a ‘family’ type business."
For the full list of nominees, visit our finalists page.
The 2018 Offshore Achievement Awards will take place on the 22nd of March 2018 at the AECC, Aberdeen. Visit our tickets page to find out about how you and your company can be there.
