A young Aberdeen oil service firm yesterday revealed ambitious expansion plans.
Flexlife, a flexible-pipe specialist, has invested £750,000 in a new headquarters, announced it is on target to reach turnover of more than £2million just two years after start-up and intends to expand internationally and open offices at key locations.
The firm was set up just 18 months ago by flexible-pipe experts Stuart Mitchell, John Marsden and Carl-Petter Halvorsen, who identified a gap in the market for an innovative consultancy to offer field-proven solutions, deliver them and also deal with integrity management.
Flexlife’s core business is the delivery of subsea and riser pipe projects.
It has already completed project-management work for Apache North Sea, integrity management for Total E&P UK and Maersk Oil plus engineering support on various projects globally for Subsea 7.
Engineering manager Mr Mitchell said: “We formed Flexlife through the desire to create a company capable of delivering what it engineers for all flexible pipe requirements. We have found there has been high demand for our practical, realistic approach, which saves client time, effort and money.
“We work on projects in all the key energy locations and have already increased the amount off work we do internationally.
“We are planning to open offices in future in locations overseas to be close to our customers and where there is potential for growth and we felt strongly that it was important for our HQ to be based in Aberdeen, where we have the proximity to the main industry leaders.
“We also chose new premises with space for us to expand into over the years ahead.”
Flexlife has seven staff at the moment and aims to add a further five within the next six months.
The company has purchased 3,000 square-foot premises at Spires Business Park, Bucksburn.
Flexlife has been working with economic development agency Scottish Enterprise (SE) and its international arm, Scottish Development International, to commercialise research and grow strategically by breaking into new markets on a structured, step-by-step basis.
Russell Stevenson, senior manager for industries at SE in the north-east, said: “Flexlife is an excellent example of the kind of highly skilled, dynamic, company which Scotland’s energy sector needs to keep competitive on the global stage.
“They are very focused on research and development, which is reflected in the number of patented solutions they are finalising and progressing at present.
“Having a young company with great growth potential choosing to locate in Aberdeen city and shire is a clear sign the region will continue to be recognised as an energy capital for many years to come. We look forward to working with them.”