New signs were unveiled at Westhill yesterday, proclaiming the north-east town’s status as a global centre of subsea excellence.
Sir Robert Smith MP and Aberdeenshire Provost Jill Webster joined Neil Gordon, chief executive of industry body Subsea UK, to highlight Westhill as the premier subsea destination in the world.
There are nearly 300 subsea companies in Aberdeen city and shire, and the 20 or so at Westhill employ about 6,000 people between them.
Ms Webster said: “These road signs recognise the significance of the region’s subsea industry, a large part of which is based here in Westhill.
“We have major players like Technip and Subsea 7 alongside smaller, home-grown, entrepreneurial engineering and technology firms. There is a real critical mass of subsea excellence here at Westhill, which the council is keen to promote and build on.
“Aberdeenshire offers a high quality of life and, increasingly, businesses are identifying the opportunities for both them and their employees to locate in one of our many attractive locations.”
Mr Gordon said Aberdeen city and shire was home to almost 40% of the UK’s subsea industry, which generates £6billion per annum and supports 50,000 jobs. Britain’s subsea sector grew by 40% between 2007 and 2010, and extracting the world’s remaining oil and gas resources will increasingly fall to the subsea industry.
Sir Robert added: “The growing export potential of this industry can support many jobs here in the years to come.”
Subsea UK also announced it is to relocate its headquarters to Westhill from Bridge of Don.
The body, which represents the industry around the UK with more than 250 members, is moving to Arnhall Business Park, where the team expects to be in its new offices next month.
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