Comment by BVAA CEO Rob Bartlett

In all my decades in industry — and especially in trade associations — I’ve never seen British engineering, particularly fluid control, under such relentless pressure. What some politely call “headwinds” are, in truth, a barrage of bear traps threatening our very foundation. 

We are being tested on every front: 

Oil & Gas Collapse

UK Continental Shelf exploration has all but vanished. Not a single new North Sea well drilled in 2025 — the first time since the 1960s. While other nations fuel their future, the UK tightens the noose with punitive windfall taxes and regulatory paralysis. 

Windfall Tax Fallout

The Energy Profits Levy has gutted earnings for giants like BP and Centrica, triggering an exodus from the sector. The result? A chaotic reshuffling of ownership, leaving us unsure who’s even operating on the UKCS — or for how long. 

Company Failures

Petrofac’s collapse in October 2025 put thousands of engineering jobs on the line. Another major player is in freefall, desperately seeking a buyer as its value evaporates. 

Transition Turmoil

Parliament is only now “investigating” the future of oil and gas — a conversation we all demanded a decade ago. The cost of delay? Lost jobs, broken communities, and a vacuum of leadership.  Meanwhile we stupidly import from overseas what we have under our own feet.

Energy Costs & Supply Chain Chaos

Keeping the lights on is now a luxury. Brexit complexities, volatile tariffs, and geopolitical instability — including war on Europe’s doorstep — have turned global trade into a minefield. 

Workforce Crisis

We face a shortage of SQEPs (Suitably Qualified and Experienced Persons), and the new Employment Rights Bill threatens to make hiring a dangerous leap of faith. 

Phantom Markets & Regulatory Overreach

We’re promised new markets (nuclear, hydrogen, CCUS etc.), but orders never materialize. Meanwhile, policies like PFAS and CBAM risk dismantling Europe’s competitive edge.  In the case of PFAS, also jeopardising fugitive emissions safety.  

We’ve calculated that all the associated £millions of costs for developing and conformity assessment of new valve seals will prevent but a literal thimbleful – across Europe - of the most damaging contaminant being lost to the environment.  This is absurd when one considers the colossal amounts of dangerous fluids we prevent from escaping to the environment, with what are frankly irreplaceable, safe and inert PFAS-based seals. 

And now, after decades of European harmonized technical standards, these specs are being rewritten by those with vested national interests, to gain advantage over the UK. 

Innovation Demands Amidst Decline

Despite shrinking margins, we’re expected to invest in AI, materials science, digital upskilling, cybersecurity, and resilience planning — all while fending off legislative and regulatory chaos. 

Why BVAA Membership Matters More Than Ever

In this climate, standing alone is not just risky — it’s untenable. BVAA is your shield, your voice, and your strategic ally.

• We fight for fair legislation, challenge reckless regulation, and protect the standards that underpin our industry.
• We lobby decision-makers, amplify your concerns, and ensure your voice is heard where it matters most.
• We connect you with peers, share non-competitive intelligence, and build collective resilience.

This is not the time to wait and see. It’s time to stand together. 

Join BVAA. Be an active part of the solution. Be part of the fight. Be part of the future.

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About Rob Bartlett,Director & CEO, BVAA

Rob has over 40 years’ experience in engineering/fluid controls including 30 years in senior positions in trade associations - 20 of those as CEO of the BVAA. He leads all aspects of the Association and its work, including overall responsibility for resources and operations, P&L, support for the Board, members, and various external bodies and contractors, including the technical and business development functions.

To discuss membership of the BVAA, please contact Rob at rob@bvaa.org.uk

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