MEMBER NEWS: Contract wins spark staffing increase for Kintore firm

May 18, 2022
MEMBER NEWS: Contract wins spark staffing increase for Kintore firm

Leading subsea controls specialist J+S Subsea Limited has reported an excellent start to 2022, with recent contract awards of more than £1 million set to prompt a 25% increase in staff in the coming months.

With 22 personnel currently on the team at the Aberdeenshire-based business, up to six more are set to join their ranks this year with subsea control engineers likely to be particularly in demand as the company seeks to expand its portfolio with a foray into renewables and controls.

Some 18 months since a management buyout of the subsea controls engineering division of SEA (part of Cohort plc) created J+S Subsea Limited, in-demand core services include the design of electrical distribution units and jumpers to reinstate power on assets, and the design of bespoke subsea electrical and hydraulic distribution assemblies.  These are backed by experts from within the team who are in increasing demand in an on-site technical authority capacity.

Demand has been further augmented by the soaring popularity of the Legacy Locker, an open industry portal for the reuse, refurbishment and recycling of subsea equipment which experienced a surge in demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic creating supply shortages.

Simultaneously, an upturn in new work from emerging marketplaces has seen J+S Subsea Limited deploy client representatives on decommissioning projects and IRM campaigns whilst technicians and engineers have been busy carrying out electrical diagnostics on clients’ assets.  Ongoing bidding for renewables and decommissioning work is also ensuring sustainability through diversity, and recent successes include the design and installation of a fibre optic and high voltage junction box, for client 23 Degrees Renewables, on their bespoke tracked trencher tool.

Ongoing growth plans are set to take another significant stride forward with the recent news that the business has been selected for the Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR) catapult programme.  This 12-18 month, in-demand programme is funded by the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ) and delivered in partnership with the Nuclear AMRC and Opergy.  It will support 20 North East businesses to get ready to bid for work in the offshore renewables sector, with participants reporting growth of an average 23%.

J+S Subsea Limited Managing Director Phil Reid said: “By consolidating our position within traditional markets and exploring new ones, we have been able to withstand the vagaries of recent operating conditions and we now look to the future with confidence and optimism.”

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AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce

The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy

Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall

Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise