An Aberdeen-based oil and gas engineering consultant said yesterday it was planning to take on 100 new recruits in the city in the next 18 months.
Optimus (Aberdeen) wants to take its workforce to about 150 as part of an expansion drive, which will send its turnover soaring.
Plans for the big workforce uplift follow an “exciting” year for Optimus, which had just five staff four years ago and now has 46.
It managed to grow in 2010 while contending with a flat energy service market.
Optimus, which provides process and facility engineering, safety and project-management services, launched Optimus Projects last March with the appointment of Karl Green as its director.
The subsidiary is 50% owned by Optimus and 50% by the parent company’s workforce, which has shown its confidence by buying equity in the new firm.
Optimus Projects was established to undertake small-to-medium projects, worth £50,000-£1million.
Meanwhile, Optimus opened for business in Thailand last October and hopes to create 30 jobs there over 18 months. The Bangkok operation aims to help Optimus grow its presence in the Far East market.
Optimus also has a joint venture, Optimus Engineering, in Bulgaria providing detailed engineering and process skid fabrication.
The consultancy said its new bases in Bulgaria and Bangkok mean clients in Aberdeen can reap the benefits of lower-cost engineering.
Optimus turned over £5.7million in 2010, up 11.8% on the previous year’s figure of £5.1million. It aims to increase turnover by 50% during 2011.
To help with its expansion, Optimus is in the process of securing larger office premises in the west end of Aberdeen, and plans to move from its Queen’s Gardens location in the next few months.
Director Ian Bell said: “We’ve had an exciting 2010, despite it being a tough market, and are set for major expansion this year.
“Our two new ventures – Optimus Projects in Aberdeen and Optimus Oil and Gas Engineering in Bangkok – are expected to create more work here in Aberdeen for good engineering and technical people.”
Optimus has been involved in projects throughout the world since its inception in 1999 by Mr Bell.