Company Report: Aiken Group
Aiken Group: Turning a vision into reality Continuing on a path of discovery, the Aiken Group has recognised a vast potential for opportunities, not only for offshore, but also onshore markets

Successful companies work hard to not only sell products or services but to foster and develop a culture of innovation among their employees. And the results can be impressive. A product developed for one specific industry can be sold to another industry, services can be added and entirely new opportunities can be discovered.
A case in point is the Aiken Group, formed in 1987 (formerly James Aiken Offshore Limited).
Based in Aberdeen, the energy capital of Europe, the company has thrived by finding a niche in the area's offshore oil and gas industries. Indeed it has a rich history, having pioneered and developed solutions where it is involved in the refurbishment and upgrade of offshore platforms, rigs, FPSO's and accommodation units.
But it hasn't stopped there. Parlaying its skills as a leading supplier of integrated, out-sourced and solutions-based engineering and specialist services, it has busily added to its portfolio, realising a vast potential for opportunities, not only for offshore but also onshore markets.
"Aiken Group is forging ahead as a leading supplier of multi-disciplined services to both the offshore and onshore industry," says Danny Donald, Managing Director. "Renamed in 2004, Aiken Group has evolved to become an international engineering and specialist group, offering clients flexible solutions and a much improved range of integrated services."
In 2007, the company relocated to new facilities incorporating a 10,000-square feet officeblock and 30,000-square feet of warehouse facilities. A £650,000 refurbishment programme, carried out by Aiken Group themselves across all the disciplines, brought the office accommodation up to a state-of-the-art facility. The move to this new site, which signals an estimated £2.5 million investment on Aiken's part, has allowed the firm to carry on with a programme of continuous growth and improvement in all aspects of quality, safety and the environment.
"We have diversified somewhat over the last 18 months," explains Donald. "The move has allowed us to significantly increase our activities, grow our yearly turnover and increase staffing levels to meet the ongoing challenges and targets."

The perfect blend
Aiken Group's service divisions includesArchitectural, HVAC and Refrigeration, Electrical and Instrumentation, Plumbing and Heating, Facilities Management, Door and Window Integrity Maintenance, Modular Hire Accommodation and Coastal Accommodation/Barges. The divisions' combined expertise can be utilised as and when required for the company's projects.
The company has recently added an additional three 4-man accommodation modules, a gymnasium and a freezer unit to its newly formed A60 offshore hire fleet.
"We can provide a full range of services required for the successful completion of any associated project; we're a one-stop shop," says Donald, who forms part of a new management team, which will take the company forward with confidence and professionalism. Other key appointments include that of Norman MacKay as Finance Director, David Hird as HSEQ Manager, Alex Wood as Sales and Marketing Manager, Eric Scott as Proposals Manager. There have also been a number of recent additions: Tommy Smith as Project Manager Modular, Kevin Stout as Operations Manager and Jim Gilmour and Steve Grant (Managers) heading up Coastal and Electrical Divisions.
"This is a very exciting time and we are up to the challenge of taking the company forward," says Donald. He adds that the common goal of bringing success to the company, and everyone involved in it, was only possible due to the loyalty and co-operation of Aiken Group's personnel working effectively together.

Rising to the challenge
The distinction between Aiken Group and its competitors comes down to its knowledge, innovation and technology; developed through years of managing the most challenging projects, the customer benefits from proven competent service, recognised supplier and service provider, excellent budget containment and empowerment.
The company maintains a strong core management and engineering team, around which additional technical resources can be quickly assembled to create project structures appropriate to the company's workload. The result is that projects are delivered under budget, ahead of schedule and to a high quality. Aiken Group has adopted this approach, supplementing it with outstanding support service to profit in highly competitive markets, equipping it well for meeting opportunities both in off- and onshore markets.
"We offer an unrivalled level of professionalism," says Donald. "We are also committed to cost reduction and performance improvement throughout everything we do.
"We have had a breakneck year and grown remarkably since we relocated to our new facility. The UK remains our base market, but we are now moving further afield to see what opportunities there arearound Africa and the Far East - two emerging, interesting markets."
Excited by the prospect of leading Aiken forward, Donald concludes: "We are a forward-thinking company, with good people, always looking positively at the future. It's an old clich

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