Westray Recruitment Group surveyed 60 industry professionals at the OWNE event to understand awareness, attitudes and adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within their businesses. The findings reveal a sector that is curious and cautiously optimistic about AI but still in the early stages of adoption.
67% of the respondents described themselves as somewhat familiar with AI and its business applications while the remaining 33% were evenly split between those who weren’t familiar and those who were very familiar. Despite varying levels of understanding, 60% of the participants agreed that AI is a positive force for business, compared to 23% who disagreed and the remaining 17% who were unsure.
When asked about the types of AI technologies currently in use, chatbots and virtual assistants led the way with 32 mentions followed by predictive analytics (16) and machine learning (9). Only 8 businesses said they do not use any AI tools at all.
Concerns about job displacement were divided with 26 saying they were not concerned, 20 very concerned and 14 somewhat concerned. HR and recruitment roles (30) and administration positions (29) were identified as the most at-risk categories, followed by planning and cost analysis (22).
Recruitment challenges remain a key issue, with over 61% of respondents citing skilled trades as the hardest roles to fill and 19 highlighting technical or engineering roles. When asked how AI could help streamline hiring, the most popular responses included improving resume screening and shortlisting (12), automating onboarding (10) and enhancing predictive analysis for cultural fit (8).
In terms of competitiveness, over 43% respondents felt confident they were ahead in AI adoption while 30% believed AI could make them obsolete if not properly managed. 1 in 2 businesses reported being well prepared for regulatory challenges, though 14 respondents admitted they were not ready.
Government regulation of AI received broad support with 43 saying yes and 17 opposing the idea. Long-term, over 66% of respondents view AI as extremely important to their strategy while the remaining respondents viewed is as not important. The most common future plans involve;
To mitigate AI risks, 70% of respondents emphasised employee retraining 20% stated transparency with the remaining 10% citing stronger cyber-security protocols.
The results reflect a sector in transition. Many businesses recognise AI’s potential to improve efficiency, decision-making and competitiveness yet uncertainty remains around regulation, workforce impact and integration. For companies in the offshore and wider industrial sectors, the key takeaway is balance, embracing innovation while supporting and retraining existing talent.
Westray believes that strategic recruitment and workforce planning will be critical as AI continues to evolve. By partnering with experienced recruitment professionals, businesses can secure talent that complements automation and drives sustainable growth.
If you would like to discuss how AI and technology are reshaping recruitment and how Westray can help future-proof your workforce, contact us today at info@westray.co.uk or call 0191 492 6622.
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