Facility-engineering company Fabricom Offshore Services revealed yesterday it was looking to set up a North Sea headquarters in Scotland to allow rapid growth north of the border.
Fabricom has 10 people in Aberdeen across two offices, but wants to bring them together on a larger site in the area.
The firm aims to have a city workforce of 50 in the near future and increase that to 100 by 2015.
News of the expansion plans came as the Newcastle business said it had been awarded a contract valued at more than £1million by EnQuest. Fabricom managing director Allan Cairns said: “Aberdeen is the offshore supply-chain hub in Europe and therefore it is increasingly important that we have a major presence in the city to develop and grow our capabilities, particularly in brownfield engineering.
“The Aberdeen office will be our main point of contact for customers and a focus for our emerging offshore construction service, and complements the depth and breadth of expertise of our engineering pool in Newcastle.
“Contracts with Talisman, Maersk and GDF Suez and others give us firm foundations on which to build.”
Fabricom is to support EnQuest on a programme of modifications and upgrades as part of a project to extend the operating life of the Thistle Alpha platform in the North Sea.
Mr Cairns said: “Securing this contract award opens up another exciting opportunity for Fabricom. EnQuest is an exciting, forward-thinking production company which is playing a lead role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the North Sea, and it is a key milestone for Fabricom to become involved in supporting it with this work.
Fabricom employs about 320 people between Newcastle, Teesside and Aberdeen.
It is part of GDF Suez Energy Services.
Fabricom’s plans for Aberdeen is the latest boost for the buoyant North Sea oil and gas industry.
Earlier this week, Australian oil service giant WorleyParsons said it was opening its first operational base in Scotland. The Aberdeen office aims to have a team of 40, which will rise as the operation grows.
WorleyParsons and its Intecsea unit have been working on their entry to the Granite City for over two years. Initial investment on planning, infrastructure, recruitment and staff will exceed £1million.