Like most service companies within the North Sea oil and gas sector, Aberdeen based multi-service engineering firm, TDC, has taken cost efficiency measures to adapt and remain competitive since the downturn started to bite in 2015.
However, unlike the majority of the company’s competitors, TDC has not solely adopted a cost cutting retrenchment approach.
Instead TDC has used an ambidextrous strategy of combining judicious reductions in expenditure, with investing in developing its skills base and expanding the range of services offered to clients.
Commenting on this strategy, the company’s Business Development Director, John Douglas, said: “Despite current difficult trading conditions within the oil and gas industry there are opportunities for TDC, and to take advantage of this, it is important to ensure our business strategy is flexible and proactive so we can get ahead of our competitors.
“So whilst we have made sensible economic efficiencies to ensure we deliver competitive cost-saving solutions to our clients, we have made very few redundancies in order to protect and retain our talent pool.
“We have also further enhanced our service capabilities by recruiting staff, and through the recent acquisitions of Deebridge Electrical Engineers and MCI Electrotechnics. This has already allowed us to exploit the weaknesses of some competitors, as many have severely diminished their long-established skills base through rationalisation, and it puts TDC in an extremely strong position to support an upturn in business activity within the oil and gas sector.”
TDC is one of the largest independent engineering organisations in Scotland, and the group employs over 150 staff.
The business is headquartered in Bucksburn, Aberdeen on a three acre site, with modern engineering facilities extending to 65,000 square feet, supported by additional bases located throughout the city, and in High Wycombe near London.
The company supplies a comprehensive range of electrical, mechanical and electronic engineering services to the international energy, marine, utilities and manufacturing markets. These include electrical rotating equipment repair, electrical maintenance and condition monitoring services, with particular specialism in the inspection and repair of Ex certified equipment.
Over the past two decades TDC has experienced significant expansion, through related diversification into specialist services within the electro-mechanical field.
This has been achieved through both organic growth and acquisitions, and has allowed the company to augment its portfolio via the upstream and horizontal integration of services such as precision machining, instrument calibration and panel manufacturing.
This enables TDC to offer integrated, single source, in-house engineering solutions to clients, for electrical and mechanical overhaul and installation projects, and aftercare asset maintenance.
Mr Douglas added “we have experienced past issues in attracting talent due to skills shortages, but the downturn within the oil and gas market has resulted in an increase in the availability of high-quality candidates.
“Therefore, we have seized the opportunity to recruit highly skilled staff to complement our existing team, and expand our technical capabilities.
“By continuing to invest in our people and the development of innovative services, we believe TDC will build resilience through diversification. This will also facilitate our company in adding further value to the services we deliver our customers.”