News Items...
Job Success for Scottish Engineering Prize-winner
December 2006
Michael Christie, a recent graduate from Robert Gordon University, has been awarded the prestigious Scottish Engineering Prize, sponsored by Scottish Engineering, who represent employers in the engineering industry.
Michael was awarded the prize for performing consistently well during his studies, work placement, and industrial project, and received a cheque for £250.
Michael (22), from Westhill, graduated with an MEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Distinction this month. From January he will head up the electronics division of Red Spider, specialists in downhole tools for the oil and gas industry, where he carried out his work placement and industrial project.
Michael said, "I'm thrilled to have been awarded this Prize and to be launching my career with Red Spider. They have given me excellent opportunities throughout my work placement and my industry project to allow me to demonstrate my abilities. They have directly contributed to me gaining this award."
Dr Allan Adam, Acting Associate Head of RGU's School of Engineering said, "The quality of our students was consistently high this year. Michael achieved excellent marks on his course and proved his impeccable engineering skills during his placement."
Chris Oliver, Managing Director, Red Spider Technology Ltd said "We're delighted by Michael's success which is thoroughly deserved. He has consistently exceeded our expectations since he joined us as a Summer student in 2005 and we are extremely pleased that he has chosen to launch his career with the company. People of Michael's caliber and ability are what makes Red Spider special. He will be a great addition to the team and help pioneer the electronics arm of our business".
Red Spider Receives Industry Accolade
April 2006
Red Spider has been named 'Most Promising Small Company' by the judges of the 2006 Scottish Offshore Achievements Awards in recognition of our growth to date and potential for the future.
Chris Oliver, Managing Director, said: "Winning this prestigious award is fantastic recognition from the oil and gas industry that we are an emerging global supplier of innovative downhole tools and solutions."
"Key to our success now and in the future is the culture and spirit of the team of people working at Red Spider and it was particularly rewarding on the night of the awards to have more than half the team there to celebrate the company's victory."
"Following a fantastic start to the year, we will add another 10 personnel to our team in 2006. We are currently recruiting offshore and workshop technicians, design engineers, sales engineers and a production planner."
Since our formation in 2003 Red Spider's Water Injection Valve, Hydraulic Red remote opening barrier, and TTRD protection sleeve have been successfully deployed by a number of operators in the UK and Norway and the Middle East. Other Red Spider designs include our Fluid Support Device, which has been developed for a major oil company to address sand and debris issues in its sub-hydrostatic ESP wells.
Double Prizes !
March 2005
The kilted spiders had another great awards night this month, when they picked up two commendations at the Scottish Offshore Achievements Awards; one for Most Promising Company, the other for Innovative Technology.
Mike Reid, Product Development Manager, said "The innovation technology award was particularly satisfying for me. We made the submission this year based on the success of the RED Plug, our unique remote opening device, and were joined at the awards dinner by new technology champions from our key clients who have supported the RED Plug into the field. It was great to share this success with those who have helped us make our idea a reality"
Chris Oliver, General Manager, and Mike Reid are shown collecting their awards from Sir Ian Wood, Chairman of Wood Group PLC.
Red Spider Picks Up Business Award
October 2004
Aberdeen Independent
A city firm has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 10 new businesses at the final of the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.
Chris Oliver, Irvine Brown, Mike Reid and Andy Skinner, directors of Red Spider Technology, accepted their trophy in front of 300 leading businessmen and women at London’s Savoy Hotel. The company also receives £4,000 of consultancy services courtesy of Croner Consulting and software company Intuit.
Red Spider Technology was established in August last year and the directors, who share many years experience in the North Sea oil industry, recognised a gap in the market they plan to fill with an innovative and responsive approach to tool design and development.
Changes in the industry over the past few years mean that operators in the North Sea oil industry are looking for new ways of working that will reduce recovery costs. This is where the Red Spider team plans to make its mark, offering a range of products designed to meet the current needs and offering solutions to specific problems. Every tool they develop will, they claim, offer advantages over their competitors in terms of performance, ease of use or increased production capabilities.
The company is building a client base in the area and are also looking to expand overseas, with Norway their prime focus, followed by West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.
John Rendall, chair of the judging panel and head of business banking at HSBC bank said: “The quality of entries for this year’s Start-Up Stars Awards was exceptional and highlights the creativity, determination and sound business skills of British entrepreneurs. Red Spider should be proud of their success in reaching the top 10”.
2004 Best New Business Award
June 2004
On 10th June Red Spider Technology were recognised for the third time this year as a business with great potential for the future. The occasion was the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise 2004 sponsored by Scottish Enterprise and The Royal Bank of Scotland at a dinner in Aberdeen attended by 420 business people. Red Spider Technology was one of three finalists for the Best New Business Award.
Chris Oliver, General Manager, said “It is very encouraging for the team to receive recognition in this way. The Grampian Awards for Business are growing in status year by year and we are very proud to be associated with them. We took a table at the dinner and had a great evening celebrating our success with our banker, business advisers and others who have given us support over the last few months.”
Mike Reid is seen above collecting our finalist’s certificate from Jenny Moultrie of The Royal Bank of Scotland.
Twice the Bridesmaid...
March 2004
This was a heady week at Red Spider Technology as we were finalists in two prestigious business awards.
The first event was the Orange ‘Small is Beautiful’ Awards held at the Institute of Directors building in Pall Mall, London where we reached a short list of three companies for ‘Best Marketing Campaign’.
The second event was the Scottish Offshore Achievements Awards held at Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen and attended by the UK Energy Minister, Stephen Timms, where we were short listed for ‘Most Promising Company’.
Chris Oliver, General Manager, says "It is very encouraging to be recognised by our industry peers so early in the development of the company. This helps increase our profile and assists us in building relationships at a strategic level with our key customers".