Aker Solutions announces 500 new jobs for Scotland

May 15, 2012 | Budget & Investment, Economy, Employment

Aker_Solutions_HQ

Plans by Aker Solutions to add another 500 jobs to its current 2,700 strong operation in the North East were announced today as First Minister Alex Salmond held talks at the international oil services company’s headquarters in Oslo, Norway.

Aker Solutions, already one of the largest employers in the region, has a growth target for the group as a whole of 9-15 per cent on average per year from 2011 to 2015, supported by high activity in all key oil and gas regions. To capitalise on this growth and support its UK and international customers, the company expects to boost its Aberdeen workforce by 500 employees over the next two years.

The growth will come in all business segments, including the subsea and drilling technology businesses that are based in Dyce, the MMO-organisation that maintains and upgrades North Sea oil platforms to extend their field-life and the company’s Portlethen-based well intervention services business.

These 500 jobs are in addition to 350 new positions created since last August, when the company announced its intention to create new jobs in Aberdeen.

Two weeks before the launch of Scotland’s oil and gas strategy, the First Minister was today also meeting Norway’s Oil & Energy Minister, Ola Borten Moe, and the AF Group, as well as Scottish-owned energy engineering company Global Project Services which today opened its first permanent base in the country.

Leif Borge, Aker Solutions’ President & Chief Financial Officer, outlined his company’s ambitions for growth in Scotland as he welcomed the First Minister to its corporate headquarters.

The First Minister said:

“Aker Solutions is one of Norway’s flagship companies, with extensive global operations and already a huge presence in Scotland.  I was pleased to meet Mr Borge and his colleagues and greatly encouraged by their on-going commitment to Aberdeen.  I am delighted that they now plan further investment and job creation in the city, delivering a great boost for the north east and wider Scottish economy.

“Our oil and gas sector remains a vitally important part of the economy, generating jobs and prosperity, and the Scottish Government, Scottish Development International and our enterprise agencies are determined to support the ambitions of overseas investors and Scottish companies. As we prepare to launch our industry strategy at the end of this month, I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss with the industry and government in Oslo how they are working to encourage on-going prosperity across the Norwegian offshore industry and how we can support similar continued success in Scotland.”

Mr Borge said:

“Aker Solutions has a proud heritage in Aberdeen and we are looking forward to tapping further into the excellent oil and gas competence base here. We are experiencing activity growth in both the UK North Sea and international markets. Our objective is to provide an even better level of support to our customers, which will enable us to win more work and capitalise on the expected market growth. Hence we are investing in our operation in Scotland.”

Anne MacColl, chief executive, Scottish Development International, said:

“We are working closely with Aker Solutions both in Scotland and in Oslo to provide a fully integrated package of support, including account management, to help the company realise its commitment here. Scotland is recognised as a world-leader in the oil and gas industry with international sales for 2010-2011 for Scottish oil and gas supply chain exports reaching £7.6 billion – a record 46.4 per cent of total Scottish supply chain sales.  It is only by working with ambitious global companies like Aker Solutions that we can continue to build on these strengths, learn from key industry players and improve our capabilities and in doing so, drive home long-term sustainable growth for the Scottish economy.”

Aker Solutions provides oilfield products, systems and services for customers in the oil and gas industry world-wide. The company’s knowledge and technologies span from reservoir to production and through the life of a field.  Aker Solutions brings together engineering and technologies for oil and gas drilling, field development and production. The company employs approximately 23,500 people in more than 30 countries. Aker Solutions has around 2,700 employees in Aberdeen operating in the subsea, drilling, well intervention services and maintenance, modifications & operations (MMO) industry segments.

The oil and gas sector supports 440,000 jobs across the UK, around 200,000 of them in Scotland.  While the industry’s licensing, exploration and regulation is the responsibility of the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), other important activities such as business development and growth are devolved to the Scottish Government, which together with its enterprise and skills agencies and SDI, works closely with the industry to maximise activity, both in the UK Continental Shelf and overseas. The First Minister is due to launch Scotland’s Oil & Gas Strategy in Aberdeen on Tuesday 29 May.