Staff Stories: Chris Thomson

My career began at 16, when I left school to take on an apprenticeship as a valve technician with Tyco Valves and Controls. That early hands-on experience gave me a solid grounding and introduced me to the fast-paced world of oil and gas.

After completing my apprenticeship, I made a major change in direction and joined the British Army. I served with the Royal Regiment of Scotland and deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 15. My time in the military shaped my approach to leadership, teamwork, and resilience, qualities that have stayed with me throughout my career.

When I returned to civilian life, I re-entered the oil and gas industry, focusing on valve services both onshore and offshore. I spent several years carrying out valve repair scopes during shutdowns and campaigns, gradually taking on broader responsibilities. Over the course of my career, I worked in a variety of roles and eventually became Valve Workshop Manager at EnerMech. Looking for a fresh challenge, I moved into project management and joined Aquatic as a Project Manager. After my first week, I moved to the Westhill office, where I joined Motive, and I’ve been here ever since.

As a Project Manager in Motive UK Rentals division, I’m responsible for managing rental projects from initial planning through to delivery. My day-to-day role involves coordinating equipment and resources, working closely with clients, and making sure projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget. I also work alongside internal teams to keep operations running smoothly and ensure we maintain a high standard of service across all projects.

I was attracted to Motive because it felt like a great opportunity to take on a new challenge and join a company that’s actively growing within the renewables and oil and gas sectors.

A typical day for me involves attending project kick-off meetings, both internally and with clients, to ensure everyone is aligned on scope and expectations. I spend much of my time coordinating with sales, operations, engineering, and our equipment operators across project worksites, making sure communication stays clear and that each project is delivered safely, efficiently, and to the required standard.

My goal is to keep building my experience and developing my skills as a Project Manager within the UK Rentals division. In the future, I’d like to progress into a more senior role, such as Senior Project Manager, as I continue to grow my depth of knowledge and capability needed to take that next step confidently. 

My proudest achievement is passing out at the infantry training school at Catterick Garrison and becoming a trained infantry soldier. And becoming a dad to my 2 amazing daughters.

Working with all the different teams across the business to pull a project together.

The can-do attitude and passion that the team have about what we do.

The support received and the friendships gained.

If you are looking for a challenge and are willing to stick in it’s a great place to work.

I really enjoy riding my motorcycle and taking trips across the UK and Europe. A few years ago, I rode from Aberdeen all the way to Turkey, crossing the Bosphorus Bridge into Asia along the way.

If I could have dinner with anyone, I wouldn’t pick celebrities or big names. I’d choose my friend Roly, who passed away. An hour at a table with him would be brilliant, just to hear his patter again and have a proper catch‑up. That would do me far more good than any famous guest ever could.

Chris has grown significantly as a Project Manager during his time at Motive, specifically managing complicated flex-lay scopes. Chris is up there with one of the friendliest guys in the office, and he is always checking in on everyone. He never shies away from challenging tasks and is always willing to help the rest of the team at Motive, even when he has his own workload to manage. It’s great to have Chris in our team.