Thinking big, thinking smart: the move to an innovative and global mindset among Scottish businesses is gaining momentum as more organisations, large and small, discover they can enjoy the many rewards on offer.
For those still unsure of taking that first step, these are companies who can offer inspiration and motivation to kickstart ambitions and give invaluable advice to guide others.
And so, in the second of our series of regular features, we meet John Aldersey-Williams, the CEO of SeaEnergy PLC.
How would you describe SeaEnergy PLC, its activities and its ethos?
SeaEnergy PLC delivers strategic operational solutions to energy companies around the world.
As an innovation-led offshore energy services business, we work with our clients in the offshore Oil and Gas and renewable industries providing innovative solutions to commercial and technical challenges to improve business performance.
Comprising R2S Visual Asset Management, Marine and Consultancy services, clients benefit from our versatility, experience and value added services as they manage assets globally.
What brought you to realise the value of innovation and new markets?
SeaEnergy, and its predecessor Ramco, have a long history of innovation.
SeaEnergy was one of the first participants in the offshore wind farm development sector and Ramco, was a pioneer of new markets; for instance it was one of the first foreign companies to work in Azerbaijan.
More recently, the innovative development of our visual asset management tool R2S makes for an interesting case study.
Originally adopted by and developed in conjunction with the forensic market, research and development has allowed for market diversification. R2S Visual Asset Management (VAM) now works with 17 international oil and gas operators, including four of the five global super-majors. In parallel, R2S Forensic continues to work in support of police forces and government agencies both in Scotland and internationally.
Can you tell me how you used these to broaden horizons for your own organisation?
As a group we work to foster a culture of innovation and creativity, both formally and informally, and with clients and in relation to our own business organisation and processes, to achieve continuous improvement.
How has this helped SeaEnergy?
It has increased SeaEnergy's profitability and helped us to build an innovative and creative team that have direct input into the future of our organisation through research and development of new products and services.
Innovation is also evident in the way we approach and assess potential new markets and this has been incredibly important as we internationalise.
What does the immediate and long-term future hold for your company?
We will work to progress the internationalisation we have already achieved and increase the breadth and depth of our existing relationships with existing clients while increasing our client base within both existing and new industries.
Continuing innovation of our products and services will help us to maintain our competitive position and exciting reputation.
Will you continue to seek out new possibilities for your business and how will you do this?
Of course! We'll do this through a combination of our continued research and development that is carried out in conjunction with our clients and increasing the range of industries that we work with.
As detailed above, we will continue to add both breadth and depth to our existing client relationships and continue the momentum behind the internationalisation of the Group.
Do you believe there exists risk aversion within some parts of the Scottish business community that hinders pushing at boundaries?
Within my own areas of experience, this isn't the case, I believe Scottish business is risk astute not averse and fosters a sensible but pioneering attitude.
SeaEnergy was recently shortlisted as a finalist in the BQ Scottish Export Awards where it was clear that companies from the very small to the very large are actively exporting and are keen to promote international trade and encourage others to do the same.
Our shortlisting for the Innovator Award in the Society of Petroelum Engineers Offshore Achievement awards for 2015 made it clear there are plenty of Scottish businesses actively pushing technological boundaries too.
How would you encourage more businesses to adopt a 'global first' mindset?
It's really helpful to engage with support from organisations such as Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International, and business networks like that facilitated by the Chambers of Commerce.
It is not about a 'global first' mindset, rather an open mindset. Establishing your business locally is essential before looking to export. Researching potential markets, engaging with and learning from those already operating in these locations is a great way of starting this process.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
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