An industrial services group is putting a multi-million pound investment into its 'important' Great Yarmouth operations after securing a contract with energy giant Shell – which could also bring new jobs to the area.
Bilfinger Salamis UK, which provides engineering and maintenance and operations services to the oil and gas, nuclear and pharmaceutical industries, has won the contract to provide technical services for Shell's Southern North Sea (SNS) assets.
The three-year contract will include onshore operations services at Bacton gas terminal, as well as work on a number of offshore platforms and support services for Dutch energy company NAM.
The contract, of undisclosed value, will be managed from Bilfinger's Havenbridge House office in Great Yarmouth.
While the 150 staff to deliver the contract will transfer from the current contractor, a Bilfinger spokesman said the firm would be 'actively recruiting' at all experience levels in response to the contract win to strengthen its maintenance, modifications and operations (MMO) capabilities.
Ken Badenoch, Bilfinger SNS general manager, said the company was 'ideally placed' to continue supporting the SNS oil and gas sector.
'Great Yarmouth is an important strategic location for Bilfinger, and we are committed to further strengthening our capabilities in the southern sector,' he said.
'We have continuously invested in infrastructure, technology and processes, positioning the company as a major provider with the capability to provide a fully integrated MMO service offering in both Aberdeen and Great Yarmouth.'
To support the Shell contract staff from electrical, mechanical, pipe fitting, welding, crane and rigging disciplines will move from the current contractor to Bilfinger.
It comes almost a year after the group won a contract to provide inspection services in the UK and Netherlands for Shell and NAM.
Sandy Bonner, Bilfinger Salamis UK managing director, said: 'Bilfinger has worked extensively with Shell and NAM for many years. Shell's decision to award this contract to us it testament to the strong relationship we have.'
Bilfinger currently employs around 250 staff at its Great Yarmouth base.
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