Petrofac's Aberdeen team gears up for winning performance through partnership with top Scottish cycling team

Leading international energy services provider Petrofac has signed an exciting partnership with Scotland’s only all-female elite cycling team to help improve employee wellbeing and encourage its teams to move from the sofa to the saddle.

With NHS data showing the average office worker spends 67 hours a week sitting inactive, as well as studies linking obesity, cancer and slowing of metabolism, the company is eager to do its part to tackle an issue that is being dubbed the new smoking. Proving its commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle, Petrofac – which has 750 employees working from its Aberdeen base – will become a sponsor and partner of Alba Development Road Team to continue to ensure they have the necessary resources to compete at the highest level of the sport.

Alex Macdonald, Petrofac’s Managing Director of Well Engineering and Decommissioning, and Alba programme sponsor, said:

“We want to ensure we are doing our bit to encourage and support our people to live a healthier, more active lifestyle. The women in the Alba team are inspirational; their commitment to maximising performance is truly aspirational and I have no doubt they will inspire our colleagues. Who knows, we might even have a future member of the team hiding among us just waiting on an opportunity like this to unleash their potential.”

As part of the sponsorship agreement, the Alba team will run nutrition-focused sessions with Aberdeen-based employees of the energy company, as well as a number of indoor cycling events and other activities culminating in a series of road rides. The plan forms part of the company’s ambition to bring its workforce back together for more in-person events and group activities.

Alex added the sponsorship is further evidence of the company’s commitment to playing its part in the communities its staff live and work in.

He said:

“We have been very active in the local community since first establishing our presence in Aberdeen 20 years ago, through supporting educational and enterprising endeavours that make a difference to our employees and their neighbourhoods. This agreement is an extension of that as we help colleagues across the organisation along the road to a healthier way of living.
High performing teams in any walk of life need the fuel in order to optimise performance, and there are clear synergies between Petrofac and Alba. We do different things, but like Petrofac, Alba is dedicated to developing talent and maximising performance.
Being able to tap into the expertise Alba possesses will help make that wellness journey less of a challenge, and we are proud to play a part in promoting an active lifestyle. I look forward to seeing our colleagues reap the rewards.”

Since launching last year, Alba’s riders have competed in the UK National Road series (road and circuit), the Tour Series, British Road and Track Championships and select European stage races, recording a series of successful results throughout the eight-strong team.

Alba DRT Performance Director and Team Manager Bob Lyons said:

“The aim of Alba is to provide a platform for progression, and we are pleased to partner with a company like Petrofac who have the same ambition – both for its business and its people.
We set out to help riders showing potential regardless of their experience or age, by providing them with the tools and platform to succeed. We are only able to do that with assistance from the likes of Petrofac, and I hope we will be able to reciprocate that feeling of achievement with their enthusiastic and driven staff.”