A Tyneside-based oil and gas engineering design organisation is on track to double its turnover and create up to 150 new jobs after a successful first year of trading.

Fabricom Offshore Services Ltd – a subsidiary of Fabricom GDF Suez UK – specialises in design and detailed engineering, maintenance and modification work to North Sea facilities and platforms, field decommissioning work and providing on and offshore services for major oil and gas companies.

The organisation aims to quadruple its workforce to 200 by 2012 after securing lucrative contract wins, including a multi-million pound deal with upstream oil and gas operator Talisman Energy (UK) Limited to provide engineering modifications which will help to connect subsea power and controls systems to one of Talisman’s North Sea platforms.

Since setting up at Balliol Business Park, North Tyneside, in early 2008, Fabricom Offshore Ltd has gone from strength to strength, increasing staff numbers from three to over 50 and investing in the latest state-of-the-art engineering design software and equipment.

Fabricom’s decision to locate a new design engineering centre of excellence in North Tyneside was secured thanks to a £1.6m Selective Finance for Investment (SFI) grant, now branded Grant for Business Investment (GBI) from One North East, which helped support the organisation’s  ambitions to create up to 250 new jobs.

Nigel Carlton, Chairman of Fabricom Offshore, said: “Fabricom Offshore has grown significantly to satisfy an increase in demand for its services. Our expertise and growing customer base has established us as a major player in the region’s growing energy portfolio.

“This last year has proved very significant for our business, and our growth is a testament to the skills of our engineers who have gained the trust and confidence of major oil companies such as Talisman Energy.”

As part of its expansion plans, the company has also adopted a new graduate trainee programme by teaming up with Newcastle College, investing in its future workforce. They have a graduate working in the business alongside the IT team who is helping to develop internal systems as part of Fabricom Offshore’s commitment to continual improvement.

Ian Williams, Director of Business and Industry at One North East, said: “It’s encouraging that Fabrciom Offshore has made such significant progress after only a year of trading, reflected in the highly positive growth forecasts, new staff and technology.

“Having dedicated organisations such as Fabricom Offshore operating in the region, ensures we remain well placed to benefit from the opportunities in the offshore oil and gas sector.”

Carole Almond, Business Finance Specialist Advisor at One North East, added: “Fabricom Offshore Services Ltd is a real success story, boosted by the Grant for Business Investment which aims to support firms to grow and create new jobs. It’s especially encouraging to see such positive growth at this testing time.”