Home / 2022 ESG Report Highlights / Social
We continue to develop a culture based on our values of Teamwork, Respect and Courage, and evaluate not just what our people deliver, but how they deliver, ensuring these values are upheld in everyday life both inside and outside of the company. Our HSE & Social Responsibility Policy outlines our commitment to creating a safe working environment for all our employees and is further underpinned by robust health and safety procedures to minimise the risk of any negative health effects for our employees.
In 2022, we launched our HSE strategy, “Safe today, safer tomorrow”, which reinforces our focus on the health, safety and security of our people, and protecting the environment while doing so. All events are robustly reported, recorded and investigated to identify root causes and identify and implement effective corrective and preventative measures. Stop the work authority is reinforced continually on our assets so that staff and contractors know that they are empowered and expected to stop the work should they believe there is a potential health, safety or environmental risk associated with any activity they are involved in.
The Board regularly monitors a range of safety performance metrics. NEO’s TRIF rate improved for the second year running during 2022 to 1.94. We had two recordable incidents associated with our operated asset activities during 2022, one Lost Time Injury (LTI) event and one Medical Treatment Case (MTC).
In 2022 we introduced Serious Incident Frequency (SIF) reporting and this is now our key safety KPI. Serious Incident Frequency is defined as the number of incidents that have an actual or potential consequence of 4 or above as per the NEO Energy Risk Matrix per 1 million manhours on a 12-month rolling basis.
NEO is a growing company, with a workforce of over 200 employees, consequently attracting and retaining talent is a key focus area. We are fully committed to our workforce and embrace a positive, inclusive culture, investing in our staff to reach their full potential. We also recognise that improving diversity in our organisation is key to creating high-performing teams, which again affects our ability to be competitive in the market. We refrain from all forms of discrimination in all our operations and believe that everyone should have the same opportunities, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, or religion.
As the UK’s 5th largest oil and gas producer, we have an impact on the local communities in which we operate via both direct and indirect economic contributions and through our corporate social responsibility activities. We are committed to playing a role in society: employing and investing in people and driving economic growth for the UK. We contribute to local communities through education, enabling people to elevate themselves within society and achieve their full potential.
2022 saw the establishment of the NEO Charity Committee, dedicated to supporting local charities as well as matching funds raised by employees in the name of good causes. In addition, we continue to support STEM students with a number of undergraduate and postgraduate sponsorships through university.
Community investment
We believe that education is key to improving lives and driving economic growth and NEO directly supports a number of initiatives related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). These benefit secondary school pupils right through to postgraduate research and aim to prepare the next generation of professionals who will help drive the transition to a low carbon, sustainable future.
Aberdeen University STEM
| In 2022, we launched our multi-year scholarship programme for both undergraduates and postgraduates studying STEM subjects at the University of Aberdeen, benefiting up to 30 students. Each year, these programmes provide a living allowance for four undergraduate students and study fees and living costs for two postgraduate students, widening to higher education that may not have been possible without financial support. In addition to funding, we have established a mentoring programme with the University’s Careers Department to connect NEO staff with students to provide additional support and guidance to ensure students can reach their full potential. As a sponsor of higher education in STEM at the university, we were invited to attend the 10 year anniversary of the Queen Consort as Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen. |
Triassic Phase 3 JIP
Sand Injectite Research Group
| We also support other academic study projects at the University of Aberdeen, designed to advance geological knowledge and reservoir understanding. These include: the Triassic Phase 3 Joint Industry Project, which sponsors one PhD and two post-doctoral students; and the Sand Injectite Research Group (SIRG), funding three post-doctoral research fellows and three research assistants. |
GeoNetZero CDT
| Throughout 2022, we continued to support the GeoNetZero Centre for Doctoral Training; a geoscience PhD programme focused on the energy transition and net zero. NEO’s involvement guaranteed funding for 24 PhDs, across three cohorts of eight students between 2020 through to completion of their studies in 2026. NEO supports the academic review of the projects and recruitment of candidates and has representation on the advisory board. |
GeoBus
| NEO is the sole sponsor of the GeoBus Outreach programme, which is run out of the University of St Andrews. The programme takes geoscience into secondary schools all over Scotland and aims to inspire young learners and promote career opportunities in Earth science and STEM areas. GeoBus has reached over 70,000 school pupils since its inception in 2012. |