INTERTEK, a global provider of quality and safety services, said yesterday it had invested £15million in new Aberdeen headquarters for its energy-sector operation.
It is moving in phases to the 41,000sq ft North Point building on the Energy Park at Bridge of Don, with all 160 local employees to relocate by March.
The company has signed a 20-year lease and is investing more than £4.5million in laboratories which are being renovated with research and development, testing and training facilities.
Raymond Pirie, vice-president for Intertek’s global upstream business, said the move to bring energy services under one roof would strengthen Intertek’s integrated offering, delivering further value to clients.
He added: “Intertek has experienced significant growth in upstream services following a number of high-profile acquisitions and our new headquarters will bring all that expertise together. We are investing significantly to create a centre of excellence to support the exploration and production market and will be actively recruiting engineers, chemists and technical experts.”
First to move into the new building is Intertek Smith Rea Energy, which specialises in hydrocarbon accounting, working with clients such as BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Nexen, Wintershall and Dong Energy. The team tracks the ownership of oil and gas from production to the point of sale.
Other services to be based at North Point in the future include production and integrity assurance; chemometric modelling; calibration and metering, measurement allocation, consulting and training, dimensional control and renewable energy.
Mr Pirie added: “From reservoir to refinery, we offer a complete package of testing and certification solutions to help clients maximise production and reduce risk.
“The investment we are making in our laboratories and facilities underlines our commitment to providing clients with the highest-quality support.”
Intertek has a network of more than 1,000 labs and offices and 30,000-plus people in more than 100 countries worldwide.