As part of its strategy to expand its services portfolio and geographic reach, Aurora has acquired Caithness-based, lifting and inspection firm, Northern Marine Services Limited (Scotland Ltd) (NMS).

NMS is an established specialist provider of non-conventional lifting, inspection, logistics and marine services with customers including SSE, Subsea 7 and a number of windfarm, hydro power, telecoms and rail network clients.

Founded in 2017 by Alasdair Noble, will continue to lead the rebranded Aurora NMS, as Lifting & Marine Services Director. NMS has extensive expertise in supporting windfarm turbine inspections, telecom mast installations and infrastructure projects which require innovative access solutions.

Supported by fresh investment, Aurora NMS will roll out its niche services across the UK, replicating the success achieved in the north of Scotland, and expects to create up to 10 new jobs or trainee positions in the next three years.  Aurora’s large Inverness facility, which also hosts the Highlands only Renewable Energy Training Centre, will supplement NMS’s Wick operation as well as enhancing mobilisation times on client operations.

Aurora Energy Services Chief Executive Officer, Doug Duguid, said: “Alasdair Noble has built an excellent business across a number of diverse sectors and NMS’s strong track record in renewables aligns well with our own ambitions of becoming a leading energy services provider.

“Aurora will invest capital in NMS to strengthen its regular and specialist lifting equipment and vehicle assets and provide an infrastructure to introduce its unique offering to a wider client based out with its north-west heartland.

We will also put resources into recruiting staff and to offer trainee opportunities in and around Wick, which as a Scottish business is an important element of our overall growth strategy.

“The strong links NMS enjoys with major wind farm operators and in the infrastructure sector is something we can support and strengthen, and we believe Aurora’s growing reputation in those areas can act as a springboard for continued success.”

Mr Noble, who enjoyed a successful career in the marine industry before focusing on heavy transport and cranes, added: “We are finding that many utility companies, which are an important part of our client base, are more comfortable dealing with larger businesses. In becoming part of the Aurora group, we now have that scale and financial and organisational backing which utilities are seeking, and we believe this will take the business to a higher level.

“With investment from Aurora we can drive forward the business in ways which were simply out of reach, and we are excited that we will be able to offer opportunities for the local workforce in Wick not just locally, but internationally, as Aurora NMS grows its market share and geographic reach.”

This is Aurora’s third acquisition of a well-established Scottish business, and follows the acquisitions of Huntly-based offshore services and fabrication company R&M Engineering and rope access and training specialist Inverness Access Training Services.

Aurora’s business plan is to create a £100 million turnover international energy services provider over the next five years by mirroring the energy industry’s transition from oil and gas and developing a strong presence in wind, solar, hydrogen, carbon capture & storage, pumped hydro and waste to energy sectors.

Aurora has committed £750,000 to establish The Renewable Energy Training Centre in Inverness which will offer safety training and technical courses for onsite renewables operations, and reskilling programmes for workers looking to transition into renewables sector jobs.

Aurora has also invested in developing a full design engineering function at its headquarters in Aberdeen, plans further expansion in Blyth and Great Yarmouth in the coming months, and is working on its first international acquisition.

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