Mechanical engineering group, EnerMech, is on a major recruitment drive as it forecasts its workforce will grow by one-third from 750 to 1000 by the end of 2011.

The Aberdeen-based oil services company currently has 80 vacancies but is hoping to attract ex-military personnel and plans to open two new bases in England to boost staffing levels.

With the impending closure of RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth’s future under threat, the company believes former armed forces staff will have an excellent blend of the required engineering and hydraulic skills.

Recent armed forces recruitment road shows in Perth and Forres attracted large numbers of past and current military staff and EnerMech are planning a recruitment day at their Howes Road headquarters and a later event in Aberdeen in November.

EnerMech also has a well-established graduate recruitment and apprenticeship scheme and recently recruited four apprentices taking the total to 12 employed, while eight graduates are at various stages of their career development. A new in-house trainee scheme has recruited six youngsters to be trained for the PPU division (process, pipeline and umbilicals) and is seeking more trainees to join.

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In addition to recruiting from its north-east heartland, EnerMech will open an office in Bristol and is looking at a second option in west Yorkshire, which will give the business a strategic advantage and tap in to the engineering skills base in both areas.

EnerMech believes Bristol, with its tradition as a major port and shipping centre, can offer skilled engineers and technicians which will boost the company’s successful cranes, rigging and heavy lifting division.

Plans are still to be finalised but an office in Huddersfield or the surrounding area – which has strong links to the valve manufacturing industry – can benefit EnerMech’s valve supply and servicing division.

EnerMech’s director of human resources, Shirley Smith, said: “We are a fast growing business and while we continue to recruit in our Aberdeenshire heartland we have to look at other options to maintain the momentum.

“In any given month we have around 80 vacancies and while we are very successful at attracting high quality candidates from the oil and gas sector, we believe there are many potentially excellent candidates working in, or recently left, the armed forces.

“It’s equally important to have talented young people coming through at different levels of the business, as it is to be able to introduce experienced technicians and engineers, and we place a lot of importance in giving apprentices and graduates and trainees the opportunity to flourish.”

EnerMech was established in 2008 and is a leading provider of mechanical engineering services, hydraulics, cranes and lifting equipment, equipment rental and training services to the global oil and gas industry.

Headquartered in Aberdeen. EnerMech has bases in Great Yarmouth, Norway, Dubai, UAE, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Ghana, South Africa and Australia. Last week EnerMech announced it had secured its largest deal to date, a five year £20 million contract to supply Wood Group PSN with plant and equipment and for repair and maintenance services.

(GK/DW)