A young oil and gas services company celebrated a successful start to 2010 having doubled its turnover to £500,000, moved to new premises and increased staff numbers.
Westhill-based Industrial Solutions International Ltd (ISI) has expanded following support received from Aberdeenshire Council's Support for Aberdeenshire Business scheme (SAB), Business Gateway and Scottish Development International (SDI).
The
company received a grant of over £5,000 from Aberdeenshire Council's SAB scheme to purchase computer software and took part in a workshop to prepare a strategy to increase turnover to £4million by 2013.
The new software will allow the oil and gas services company to build 3D models of their ThinJack products which provide engineering solutions using computer aided design to improve understanding of what they do.
The new software has also led to FPAL (first point assessment) accreditation that will allow ISI to register its ThinJack services with suppliers to tender for new contracts.
The company relocated to bigger offices and a new workshop at Arnhall Business Park, Westhill in March 2009 and has further plans for expansion into new markets in Australia and the United States.
Director of ISI Alastair MacDonald said: "Turnover has been increasing significantly each year since we started two and a half years ago and last financial year's turnover of half a million was over double the previous year and we will continue this trend.
"We believe that our growth is attributable to the effort put into sales and marketing for which we have received excellent financial and advisory support from the Support for Aberdeenshire Business Scheme, Business Gateway and SDI."
The company has secured deals from two more major North Sea operators with contracts worth over £200,000 and taken on more staff to bring the total workforce to five.
Aberdeenshire Council's business development executive Douglas Rennie urges more companies like ISI to get in touch following changes to eligibility for the council's Support for Aberdeenshire Business (SAB) scheme.
"The scheme has been expanded to help tackle the current economic downturn and businesses from any sector can now access the funding scheme and support from the team," he said.
The changes follow a mid-term review of the council's Economic Development Priorities to 2011.
Councillor Peter Argyle, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee, said: "The review was conducted not only because the strategy is half way through its life, but also because there have been several significant changes in the economic, political and structural landscape of Aberdeenshire and Scotland since the strategy was originally approved.
"I'm glad to see that the changes have led to companies such as ISI taking advantage of the scheme and am sure we will see many more local companies receiving support."
Vice chairwoman, Councillor Jill Webster, added: "ISI is a great example of a company strengthening its position and growing in a harsh economic climate and should encourage other companies to take up opportunities either though the council's SAB scheme or other agencies."
To be eligible for support under the SAB scheme a businesses must demonstrate that the proposal will bring additional economic benefit to Aberdeenshire.
Applications are considered by the SAB panel at regular intervals, for more information and to find out if your business might be eligible contact Douglas Rennie on 01467 672536, by email at douglas.rennie@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or visit www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/support/finance/sab.asp
