Increasing demand for underwater engineers

The UK’s underwater engineering industry is set to recruit 8,928 people in the next three years, according to the findings of a new report.

Industry’s body Subsea UK has unveiled the results of its Business Activity Review for the fiscal year 2018-19 in advance of its flagship annual event, Subsea Expo which takes place in Aberdeen next week.

The total value of UK subsea output has increased to almost £7.8 billion from £7.5 billion in 2017.

This represents around 37% of a global market, estimated to be worth around £21bn annually, and confirms that the UK remains the market leader in underwater engineering, manufacturing, products and services.

While employment figures remain fairly static, rising from 45,033 in 2017 to 45,163, the forecasts for recruitment in the next 12-36 months are more promising.

Almost 80% of companies anticipate ramping up recruitment, with forecasts suggesting employment in the industry could rise to over 54,000 by 2022.

The majority of these jobs will be in north-east Scotland, where 63% of the industry is based.

Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea UK, said: “The last five years have taken their toll on those subsea companies predominantly operating in oil and gas.

“But the findings in this business activity review reveal that the UK subsea industry has weathered the storm.

“The decline has been arrested with a clear upturn in activity, largely due to an increase in output from subsea SMEs and more activity in renewables, particularly offshore wind.”