Oil firm Aker Solutions is to add another 500 jobs to its 2,700 strong operation in the north east of Scotland.
The Norwegian-based company is boosting its activities with a yearly growth target of 9-15% in place between 2011 and 2015.
The growth will come in all business segments, including the subsea and drilling technology businesses that are based in Dyce to extend the field-life North Sea oil platforms the company’s Portlethen-based well intervention services business.
The 500 new jobs will be created in Aberdeen less than a year after the company took on an additional 350 staff in August 2011. The region has had a number of recent jobs announcements and is experiencing low unemployment due to the number of energy firms located there.
Leif Borge, Aker Solutions’ president and chief financial officer, outlined his company’s ambitions for growth in Scotland as he welcomed the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond to its headquarters in Oslo, Norway.
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 and we are hoping to capitalise on the market growth that is expected.”
The oil and gas sector supports around 200,000 in Scotland and the government is keen to grow this further with Salmond set to launch the country’s oil and gas strategy in Aberdeen on Tuesday 29 May.
The First Minister said: ““Our oil and gas sector remains a vitally important part of the economy. The Government is determined to support the ambitions of overseas investors and Scottish companies.”
“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,” he added.
International sales for the financial year concluding April 2011 totaled £7.6bn for Scottish oil and gas supply chain exports.
