Isleburn to build new state of the art facilities in Invergordon

The future of 220 full time jobs are to be secured as Evanton based Isleburn Ltd plan to build a Fabrication shop for the assembly and loading of large structures to replace their existing facility at Nigg Yard, where they have been served with formal notice to vacate the premises.

Isleburn have been servicing the oil and gas and renewables marketplace from their base at Nigg Yard for a number of years, but now are required to vacate the premises.

Isleburn’s Operations Director, Neil MacArthur said of the move, “this has been a huge decision for the company as it is an investment of several million pounds at a time of a downturn in the marketplace.

As we have been served formal notice, we do require this facility for us to continue to operate at our current levels and to compete for larger scale work within our highly competitive marketplace.

We require a large building to assemble structures and the deep water to be able to ship them out from the port. We are committed to the area and committed to our people and so I am pleased in having received the support of our Board to progress with these plans.

I am obviously aware and sensitive to the issues of this building going up at the Invergordon base, but we were left with little option in either losing the jobs and any potential to increase our workforce, or indeed move our operations to other locations. These options are real, but not something we wished to consider seriously”.

Much debate has taken place to the potential for development of the Nigg Yard facility, but this move highlights the commitment of Isleburn to their workforce and to Ross-shire at times of economic uncertainty.

Isleburn have additional facilities in Evanton and Invergordon, but their need for large structure assembly and deep load out facilities at the Invergordon Supply Base will allow for the jobs to be secured and have obvious economic benefits to the area.

It will allow them to continue to develop both their workforce and their training school that brings young people into the industry within the world of subsea infrastructure and the increasing demands anticipated within the renewables marketplace of both wave and wind power.

It was not long ago that Isleburn were forced to turn down the opportunity of securing a huge power related fabrication contract for the manufacture of large skid packages due to the weakness of their temporary lease facility at the Nigg Yard.

Securing this new facility enhances Isleburn’s longterm future and capability to serve the energy sector. 

We understand our Landlords position and support the efforts being made to redevelop the Nigg yard from it’s current state. The opportunities in offshore wind are important to the economy and support Isleburn’s efforts to find a balance with other energy sector activities.

A combined approach is important to set the Highlands and Islands as a centre of excellence in manufacturing energy sector assets.