Oil and gas service firm Rigmar is to establish a new resource management division as it seeks to provide skilled personnel to an expanding roll of international clients.
The Aberdeen-based group which snapped up a majority shareholding in long-established Dundee fabrication firm Riverside Engineering last year, rebranding the Tayside concern as Rigmar Fabrication said it hoped the new move would allow it to provide industry partners with a broad range of skilled secondment personnel.
The move promises something of a jobs boost in the sector, with newly-appointed resourcing manager Kris McGenily leading the division and splitting his time between the group’s Dundee offices and Aberdeen headquarters.
Rigmar itself expects to recruit around 25 further full-time staff before the year is out, with the firm forecasting a 25% upturn in demand for its core services.
Managing director Robert Dalziel said the new venture presented a natural transition for his firm, with recent international growth accelerated through the acquisition at the Port of Dundee and the establishment of a dedicated training centre in the north east.
“As we expand our service offering and team, we naturally identify areas where we can further support our clients, which has led to the creation of the resource management division,” he said.
“Rigmar deliver a wide range of asset integrity solutions including engineering design, construction, fabrication, inspection, specialist access, drilling facility as well as blasting and painting services.
“Over the years we have built a substantial database of reliable candidates within these fields. It makes sense for our clients to benefit from this network and ensure they find the right person for the job.”
Mr McGenily said he was delighted to take up the new post alongside Rigmar’s management team.
“There is an obvious gap in the market at the moment and, at a time when reports of skills shortages within the energy industry are at their highest, Rigmar will work closely with clients to recruit a team with the experience required to complete projects efficiently,” he said.
Launched in 2007, Rigmar provides a range of specialist oil and gas support services globally, including rope access, construction engineering, inspection, and painting, with the majority of their client base in UK North Sea, West Africa and Singapore.
The company previously said it plans to make a multi-million-pound investment in the Dundee facility to further position the port as a premier location for jack-up rig upgrades and subsea activity.
Recent projects include fresh contracts with specialist underwater systems firm Subsea 7 in support of its projects in the North Sea and West of Africa.
December’s undisclosed six-figure deal for a controlling interest in Riverside Engineering came with hopes of “significant” new job opportunities in Dundee.
Rigmar said it recognised Riverside’s “highly-skilled and experienced team” could help it expand southwards and “create one of the UK’s premier jack-up ports in the city of Dundee”.
At the time, Mr Dalziel said the acquisition secured a long-term commitment to Tayside through the “opportunity to utilise the facility and the knowledge within the business to attract the oil and gas offshore and renewables market”.