| Workplace refurbishment to attract new energy personnel |
Competition to attract and retain the best and brightest personnel has never been as fierce as leading oil and gas organisations look towards a sustainable future in the North Sea.
With a finite pool of skilled workers to choose from, companies have to pull out all the stops if they are to secure the top employees for their business.In recent months, a series of major refurbishment projects announced by energy firms looking to re-establish their presence in the north-east has signalled a continued confidence in the future of the North Sea. For many companies, having high quality, functional and stylish premises is part of the overall package they hope will give them the edge over their competitors. Scottish architecture and space planning business Space Solutions has been involved in a number of high-profile projects for oil firms looking to consolidate their presence in the north-east. The company’s Aberdeen team recently completed work on a £500,000-plus project with Apache North Sea Ltd to refurbish and upgrade the internal layout of their Alba Gate facility at Stoneywood Park, Dyce. The 16-week project saw Space Solutions strip out both floors of the two-story building and streamline the interior layout to meet Apache’s existing needs with provision made for future growth. The office was redecorated with new lighting, flooring and partitioning added to create a state of the art working environment. Apache North Sea operates the North Sea Forties and Brimmond fields. It is part of the Houston-based Apache Corporation, a large oil and gas independent with core operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Egypt and Australia. 
Roger Brimmer, general services manager of Apache North Sea Ltd, said: “We are fully committed to our business in the North Sea and have invested significantly in the Forties Field to extend field life for at least the next 20 years. We recognize the importance of having offices in Aberdeen which reflect this commitment and that would help us to not only attract and retain staff but would help to increase productivity and staff motivation.“Investing in our Aberdeen office has increased our competitiveness by offering existing and potential employees the attraction of coming to work every day to a modern, comfortable and fit-for-purpose environment.” Space Solutions has also embarked on a contract to design and project manage the interior refurbishment of Maersk Oil North Sea UK Limited’s new offices in Crawpeel Road, Altens. Space Solutions is carrying out the work as part of a wider refurbishment of the building which will cost around £7million in total. Work on the 53,800sq ft five-storey building will be carried out on a phased basis to allow the continuing occupation of the offices. Space Solutions also recently carried out a £135,000 project to design and fit-out the first floor of Britannia House, Arnhall Business Park, Westhill, for Ramco Energy Plc. Space Solutions managing director Steve Judge said: “International companies such as the ones we are working with are demonstrating their commitment to their Aberdeen operations and personnel with these quality-driven-projects. “The property market is extremely competitive in the north-east at the moment so many businesses are looking closely at the benefits of revitalising their own or other existing real estate as a solution to their growing property needs. “Taken alongside large-scale development projects by major players such as BP, Shell, Subsea 7, Halliburton and Weatherford, they help to illustrate the long-term confidence prevalent in the sector and the good news that means for the local economy. “Securing these contracts is an endorsement of our experience and expertise in our core business of commercial building design and refurbishment. It underlines our ability to provide a comprehensive in-house property service for projects of all sizes, from design and planning to managing and implementing for smooth delivery.” |
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