Aberdeenshire marine safety specialist Survival Craft Inspectorate (SCI) is creating 100 new jobs as it gears up to meet new maritime safety regulations coming into force in July this year.
The firm, which provides emergency marine systems and support services globally, says that 50 of these posts will be created at its headquarters in Findon, where it plans to expand existing manufacturing facilities.
The remainder of the posts will be created across its international operations, which include offices in the US, Canada, Norway, Singapore, Malaysia, Qatar and Western Australia.
SCI says the additional mechanical technicians are needed to cope with a rise in demand for its services triggered by the introduction of new maritime regulations for lifeboat release and retrieval systems from July onwards.
Managing director Angus Campbell said: “We’re delighted to be growing the business in this way and creating new job opportunities both in the north-east of Scotland and across our international operations.”
The firm has also made a number of changes to its senior management team, as it eyes a turnover of £30million for the year ending 2014 – up from £18.4million in 2013.
Newly appointed chief executive Steve Wells, who previously held the role of chief financial officer, says the firm has ambitions to become a £40million turnover business by 2016.
“As well as our established markets in the UK, Norway, south-east Asia and Gulf of Mexico, we see growth opportunities in North and South America and Australia,” said Mr Wells. “A key reason for increased demand for our services has been the need for vessel owners to have a planned upgrade for compliant lifeboat release and retrieval systems.”
He said the firm would extend its global reach by forming agreements with trusted partners, with the first already agreed for the Greek and Belgian markets.
Other changes to the senior management team include Neil Gauld as chief financial officer, John Butchart as chief operating officer and David Nicoll as general manager.
SCI plans to open its 13th global office in Louisiana next month.
This follows the creation of an office in Rotterdam in November 2013.