Specialist fabricator Isleburn said yesterday is planning to recruit a further 60 workers in the north early next year.
This follows the business securing six major contracts totalling more than £16million to build oil and gas production hardware for the North Sea.
The majority of the construction work on the projects for various energy firms will be completed at the company’s facilities around the Cromarty Firth next year.
Isleburn’s chief operating officer, Neil MacArthur, said: “As we approach the end of what has been a very good year for us, we are delighted to have secured these new contracts which will ensure we will continue to be very busy in 2011. The development of our new assembly facility, beside the excellent quayside facilities at Invergordon service base, has been an important factor in our ability to attract these levels of business and secure employment in the coming year for local workers.
“Our facilities in the Highlands and around Scotland, along with the experience and expertise of our workforce, have established Isleburn as international leaders in the construction of subsea hardware for the North Sea and oil and gas operations around the world.”
The operation is part of Global Energy Group.
Isleburn has a workforce of more than 460: 256 in the north, 99 in Aberdeen and 107 at Dunfermline.
Highlands and Islands MSP Rob Gibson welcomed the latest contract wins.
He said: “This is great news for Isleburn and the Easter Ross economy.
“They are proving that they are the UK’s leading fabricators in this field and in a time of economic hardship the news is a major boost.
“The energy sector is vital to the whole of the Highlands and islands and to see such announcements as this is very encouraging.
“I expect to see Isleburn go from strength to strength in the future, which can only be a good thing for the local economy and stature of the area.”