Working with UK suppliers
Our work in the UK sees us working with a wide range of businesses from across the country.
In 2024 we spent a total of £4.6 billion with UK suppliers. Through several projects, we supported companies to trial new technologies, grow their workforce and build credibility in their respective markets.
These case studies shine a spotlight on some of the companies and organisations we worked with in 2024.
Oxford Flow
Oxford Flow grew its customer base, increased its headcount and moved to a new headquarters building in Oxford after an investment by bp Ventures and orders from bp’s Whiting Refinery in the US.
Oxford Flow specializes in precision valves and regulators for industry including oil and gas operations. Founded in 2015, the company employs over 50 people in the UK and exports to dozens of countries around the world.
The company’s relationship with bp began around four years ago when it worked with engineering teams to help adapt its valve technology to be used with oil and gas.
Armed with these insights, Oxford Flow went on to develop the ES Stemless valve – designed to improve performance, minimize maintenance and reduce fugitive emissions. bp went on to place a significant order to replace valves at its Whiting Refinery in the US.
“This order marked a turning point for Oxford Flow, as it demonstrated bp's confidence in the technology and stimulated interest from other operators worldwide,” says Neil Poxon, CEO of Oxford Flow.
bp Ventures, the venture capital arm of bp, together with Energy Impact Partners, invested $25 million in the company in December 2024. The additional funding resulted in Oxford Flow increasing its headcount by 52%, adding 22 new roles. The company has also moved to a larger, more modern facility and consolidated its head office, R&D, and production operations under one roof.
This expansion has enabled Oxford Flow to grow its global customer base, particularly in key regions such as the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.
bp’s commitment transformed Oxford Flow’s position in the market giving other businesses who we were talking to around the world the confidence to move forward with our technology.
Neil Poxon, CEO of Oxford Flow
Salunda
After teaming up with bp, Salunda has enhanced its products, expanded its market reach, and increased its workforce.
Headquartered in Oxfordshire, Salunda specializes in workplace safety solutions to help manage risks in high-hazard environments, like those on offshore platforms. It was founded in 2013 and has since grown to employ 35 people in the UK and 10 in Houston, US.
Salunda's Crew Hawk technology tracks the location of personnel in real-time so users can respond to potentially unsafe situations and implement safer ways of working. Crew Hawk is used mainly in drilling operations. bp used the technology on platforms in the North Sea and two years ago then saw an opportunity to use Crew Hawk on other parts of its platforms, not only in drilling.
Salunda worked with bp teams to adapt Crew Hawk for use in well maintenance and repair operations, also known as interventions. In particular, these applications became possible because Crew Hawk was available in a portable format that could be set-up and moved rapidly, including installation by end-users without specialist support.
This collaboration also enabled configuration of Crew Hawk data analytics matched to current industry best practice, based on bp’s “red zone” policies.
The enhancements made to Crew Hawk allowed Salunda to reach a new market segment. It also went on to hire two new engineers in the North Sea.
Our collaboration with bp was the catalyst for us to explore the many applications for this technology beyond the niche of drilling, where we focused previously.
John Large, Salunda’s director of sales and marketing
Wellvene
Wellvene has developed new products and found new customers in the North Sea and beyond after collaborating with bp.
Wellvene is a design engineering and manufacturing company that specializes in providing tools for well completion, intervention and integrity activities. Founded eight years ago, it has a team of 26 internationally headquartered in Aberdeen with bases in Norway and Australia. It exports to 16 countries around the world.
bp was one of Wellvene’s first customers, and together they have developed tools for bp’s offshore wells operations. The most recent collaboration resulted in the design of Wellvene’s new InterLift™ system. The InterLift™ was designed to eliminate suspended loads, reduce manual handling and enhance red zone management. It lets operators perform wireline tasks with less hands-on contact with pressure control equipment, which helps better manage safety risk during operations.
After designing the InterLift™ system together three years ago, it was tested successfully on bp’s Andrew platform in the North Sea. Over the last two years, Wellvene has found new customers for the system, employed two new fulltime offshore personnel and it is currently being used on a 51-well decommissioning campaign in the North Sea.
