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

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.

-- Advertisement --

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 yesterday 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."

Mr Borge said: "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."

Aker Solutions provides oilfield products, systems and services for customers in the oil and gas industry world-wide.

(GK)