Design and engineering consultant WS Atkins plans to double its oil and gas-focused Aberdeen workforce to around 300 within about five years, one of its bosses said yesterday.
Martin Grant, managing director of energy at Atkins, said increased activity at the north-east operation were playing a key part in the company’s overall growth.
He added: “Aberdeen is hot for us at the moment and the reality is there are not enough people to do the work.
“We are looking to create a stream of new talent by bringing in graduates and putting them through our Atkins training academy.”
Suitably qualified engineers will also be recruited from other sectors, he said, adding: “Business is good just now and the North Sea is still throwing up interesting projects. Aberdeen is seen globally as a centre of expertise, particularly for structural integrity work. There is widespread recognition of its experience in looking after structures in one of the most aggressive seas in the world.”
Mr Grant said his oil and gas team in Aberdeen was contributing about £20million to group turnover annually and the figure was growing, helped by relatively high oil prices.
He was speaking after Atkins posted underlying pre-tax profits of £46.4million for the six months to September 30 – up from £41.7million a year earlier – on a 27% increase in revenue to £842.9million.
The company employs about 1,100 people in its energy division, including around 600 focused on oil and gas work.
Its Aberdeen operation was buoyed by the acquisition in June of the oil and gas business of Finnish company Poyry for £15.4million.
The deal saw Atkins’ team in the Granite City mushroom from 88 to 138, since when it has grown to 150.
Technip said yesterday it had formed a new subsea and offshore engineering consultancy through the merger of subsidiary Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants, including 320 engineers in Aberdeen, with its deepwater engineering team in Houston.
The French energy service giant said it hoped the new standalone Genesis business would become the worldwide leader in early-phase engineering consultancy and full-lifecycle subsea and offshore engineering services.
A spokeswoman said: “Genesis’s strategy has already seen Aberdeen-trained engineers become leaders in engineering hubs worldwide and will continue to provide exciting opportunities for Genesis personnel to export their knowledge and experience.”
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