Aberdeen Drilling School has embarked on an international growth plan in the East Asia oil and gas market.

After setting up an office in Kuala Lumpur in April last year, the company has secured over 600 trainees and is predicting a £2 million boost to its turnover.

To expand internationally, the company was supported by both Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International.

Aberdeen Drilling School's MD, Jim Sutherland, said: "International activity has always been central to our long term growth strategy.

"We have been the dominant drilling and well control school in the UK for some time, but have constantly looked for project work globally, supporting the international training needs of clients from Alaska to Australia, and from Houston to Ho Chi Min City.


"We took the opportunity last year to build on our success in the Far East and to put a permanent presence into the Asian offshore and subsea hub of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, potentially a £1-2M market for us.

"Scottish Enterprise played a big role in supporting us internationally and after almost a year of operating there we are already the largest drilling school and well control training centre in Malaysia and looking to expand our presence throughout the Asian markets in 2016 and 2017."

International sector head for oil and gas at Scottish Enterprise, David Rennie, added: "Scotland is renowned globally for its excellence in oil and gas and like Aberdeen Drilling School, the supply chain must capitalise on this reputation to maximise opportunities overseas.

"Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the North America regions are forecast to provide the most opportunities and we want to work with more companies to help them open up new opportunities in these high growth markets."

(LM/JP)