Oilfield engineering service group Aker Solutions said yesterday growing demand for subsea services in the North Sea had helped it to higher turnover and profits.
The Norwegian firm, which employs more than 2,500 people in Aberdeen among a global workforce of around 18,500, added it expected the high level of activity in the region to continue in the coming years.
It also restated its plans for major recruitment in Aberdeen to meet growing demand for its services.
Aker had said previously it wanted to create 300 jobs in the Granite City – mostly in its subsea division – and a further 300 at Aberdeenshire-based Aker Qserv, part of its well-intervention service arm.
Yesterday, the company said turnover last year was £4billion compared with £3.7billion in 2010.
Operating profits in 2011 were £284million, compared with £275million the year before, while pre-tax profits rose by £11.5million to £229million.
Mike Forbes, managing director of maintenance, modifications and operation for Aker Solutions in Aberdeen, said: “We have experienced a positive year in terms of activity, with a series of contract wins and a solid order book for the UK operation across all business segments.
“Throughout the year our global subsea business had a particularly strong order intake, which is also reflected in our order book here in Aberdeen. With this high activity level expected to continue and a number of important development projects due to come on line across the business in the next two to three years, we are investing heavily in a major recruitment programme that will allow us to continue with our ambitious growth strategy.”
Aker signed a series of deals with North Sea operators in 2011, including Dana Petroleum, Statoil and Lundin, with much of the fabrication work for the contracts being carried out in Aberdeen.
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