Member in Focus

COMET

Mark Rushton, CEO STC INSISO (COMET parent company)

1. Tell us a bit about your organisation (who are you, where do you operate, etc.)

Our team are experts in developing and delivering software and services that help businesses in a range of industries to control risk and assure operations. Our headquarters is in Aberdeen, but we also have staff working remotely in locations around the UK and internationally.

We support clients in leading organisations within sectors, including the international energy industries, rail, construction, technology, and utilities. Our team has a deep understanding of organisational root causes, developing a range of products and services designed to prevent failure and improve business performance.

 

2. What is keeping you busy currently? What large projects are you working on?

We are particularly busy in 3 areas:

1.     COMET – our flagship investigation and assurance software and training is being rolled out in several industries with the likes of Cummins, McDermott, Harbour Energy, Severn Trent Water, Apache, TAQA and Western Midstream.  Many of our COMET projects are Global, too.

2.     Technology Development – in addition to developing our own product roadmaps, we are proud to build and support truly innovative software for a range of clients such as ZynQ 360, Ansa Data Analytics, Peterson and ICR.

3.     Our professional services division continues to deliver bespoke people and culture programmes to organisations from energy to aviation to rail, spanning safety culture, high potential management development, ED&I and business & commercial.  Clients include East West Rail, Worley, Peel Ports and Signature Flight.

This year, we have gone through a rapid growth phase after securing investment from BGF in January, which supports our commitment to exponential growth.  Our fastest-growing product is COMET, which is a suite of human and AI-led audit and inspection tools.  We look forward to shortly announcing several new COMET customers, ranging from Indonesia to the USA. 

3. What are some of the opportunities/challenges you see for your organisation in the future?

AI is shaping many aspects of the future of our profession, revolutionising development and delivery processes, and redefining what's possible. One area where AI is making significant headway is in automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks in software development.  However, careful integration and consideration are necessary to fully harness the benefits.

Better cross system connectivity is key too – making API connectivity and ‘single truth’ type integration both easier and more reliable.  We have a dedicated team constantly working to ensure we are prepared for the client expectations of tomorrow.

 4. How would you describe the company culture? Do you have any specific shared values?

We foster a diverse and inclusive culture which is people-orientated and collaborative.  Everyone who contributes to the business, whether they are staff or a contractor, based in the office or remotely, is treated equally.  We also pride ourselves on having a relatively flat structure, where senior leadership is accessible and approachable. We recognise the importance of listening to new ideas, often from younger members of our team, and try every time to represent our culture and values on client projects too.



About your OEUK membership

 5. As an SME/Medium/Large what motivated you to become a member of the OEUK member organisation?

We are enthusiastic about participating in the events, about learning, and in the networking opportunities which will allow us to raise brand awareness and gain insights from other businesses about their needs. We anticipate that we will be able to connect with key decision-makers in the industry and expand our network.  

Another key benefit for us is the opportunity to share our news via OEUK’s channels.

 

6. OEUK has over Fourteen Forums, which forums are you looking to get involved in?

Due to our range of software products and services, which primarily help businesses to control risk and assure operations, the forums which are most relevant to us are the H&S, Information Management, SME, and Supply Chain forums, as well as the Continuous Improvement Network.



Future of Industry

7. What are the biggest Net-Zero changes you have seen in our industry?

Momentum has increased at pace around all things net-zero, and we’ve become much better educated about what we can actually ‘do’, not just say. Investors, potential clients, and staff now care about what we do in our industry to create a genuinely sustainable business.  On a macro level, changes include increased investments in renewable energy sources, but it has also put a much greater emphasis on the implementation of innovative technologies to optimise operations particularly those that do still use carbon-based energy.

8. How do you see the industry looking in 20 years?

In the next 20 years, the energy industry is poised for an even more profound transformation. Diversification will be paramount, with companies investing heavily in renewables, leading to a shift towards integrated energy providers. Collaboration and digital technologies will accelerate innovation. Geopolitical shifts and region-specific transitions might add complexity, emphasising the industry's need for innovation and sustainability.

 9. How is your organisation driving the transition to Net-Zero?

At a macro level, our COMET platform can significantly contribute to the transition to Net-Zero. By identifying systemic issues, preventing environmental incidents, and improving operational performance through the delivery of powerful preventive actions, COMET helps organisations reduce unwanted events that negatively affect sustainability. It helps organisations to identify areas of improvement, and it supports data-driven decision-making.

We are also very aware of ourselves and how we do business, trying to always be environmentally aware, whether that be being paper-free, significantly reducing our travel footprint through the use of virtual learning environments, or optimising our energy consumption and use of electric vehicles.

Find out more at:
https://www.cometanalysis.com/