From left, Simon Harvey, Proserv’s head of operation at Great Yarmouth, David Lamont, CEO, and Iain Smith, region president for UK and Europe, at the site of the company’s new facility in Great Yarmouth (photo: Proserv)

Energy services company Proserv is preparing for future growth by investing in a new purpose built technology centre for subsea controls and communications in Great Yarmouth.

The move will see around 190 employees consolidate from two sites in the area into the new 65,000 sq ft Beacon Park site in Gorleston-on-Sea which will feature modern office, manufacturing and yard space and provides the flexibility to add a further 20,000 sq ft of workshop capacity.

Construction will commence next month with the building expected to be completed during March 2018.

David Lamont, Proserv CEO, says, “This is great news for the whole of Proserv but especially the team in Great Yarmouth. As an established employer in the region since the 1960s, we have developed an outstanding workforce that is well recognised globally for its expertise and engineering capabilities. Investing in this new facility firmly underlines our long-term commitment to Great Yarmouth and plans for growth in the area.”

“Consolidating operations into a modern purpose-built site will make us leaner, more efficient and better placed to deliver for our global customer base, whilst creating capacity for future expansion. The centre will serve as a global hub and Centre of Excellence for our subsea communication and controls activities and ensures we remain at the forefront of our field. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Great Yarmouth Borough Council for their unwavering support over the years in getting us to this exciting stage,” continues Lamont.

Iain Smith, Proserv region president for UK and Europe, adds, “The energy industry continues to seek new solutions that can enhance production and extend asset life and the technical developments in subsea controls and communications being made by our team in Great Yarmouth helps deliver those crucial efficiency gains. Some of the most exciting and innovative technology developments in our portfolio are in the subsea controls and communications arena and I envisage demand for our solutions and services growing further as we continue to invest in our technology, capabilities and expertise.”

Beacon Park is part of the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Enterprise Zone, which focuses on attracting and supporting energy-related businesses within the East of England. Great Yarmouth Borough Council has invested GBP 4.5 million in the base, which the council is also developing, with GBP 1.5 million coming from New Anglia LEP’s Growing Places Fund. Proserv will fund the remaining sum.

In a joint statement, the council’s political group leaders, Cllr Graham Plant, Cllr Kay Grey, Cllr Trevor Wainwright and Cllr Adrian Myers, says, “This landmark development on the Enterprise Zone reflects Great Yarmouth long-standing position as a global offshore energy capital and Beacon Park’s reputation as the location of choice for energy investment and growth.”

“The borough council is committed to supporting any businesses with aspirations to relocate to or expand within the area. This success has come about through close partnership working across the public and private sectors, and we look forward to welcoming Proserv and its staff to Beacon Park early next year,” adds Plant.

News of the latest development comes at a time of strong growth for Proserv after the company recently secured over GBP 12 million in contract awards for its new-build, after-market and decommissioning services.

In May, Proserv’s Great Yarmouth team won another project award for the engineering, supply and installation of a subsea control system for the Finlaggan gas condensate development operated by Zennor Pathway in the Central North Sea. The control system will include Proserv’s award winning Artemis 2G subsea electronics module, which is also one of the core technologies within the company’s Augmented Control Technologies (ACT) toolkit.

Proserv is a technology-driven company providing products, services and bespoke solutions to clients across the drilling, production and decommissioning market sectors. Operating worldwide through 22 operating centres based in 12 countries, the company has won a string of industry awards over the years in recognition of its achievements.

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