Flying in the Face oF jobs and growth - British Chambers of Commerce

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Flying in tHe FAce oF joBs And growtH
CASE STUDY: DUCO lTD
Business: Hi-Tech Manufacturing
Turnover: £60 million
Based: Newcastle
Discussion with: Emma MaDdison,
Communications and Marketing
Officer
Key learning: Connectivity is key
for UK based multi-nationals
duco is part of the technip group
and employs of 500 people at its
site in newcastle. it manufactures
umbilicals for the subsea oil
and gas industry. these supply
hydraulic control and chemicals
to oil and gas wells and subsea
manifolds.
duco makes up part of the uK’s
subsea sector, which employs
about 40,000 people, half of
them in scotland. subsea is a uK
success story and its exports have
grown by over 50% in three years,
to more than £3bn.
duco flies skilled engineers
internationally to work on projects,
installations and repairs. its sales
and business efficiency would
be boosted by better and more
frequent connectivity to norway.
IN QUOTES:
On moving its people:
“we would get there whatever it
takes. if the business is there, we
can’t afford to not be following it
and pursuing it....if someone’s got
to be there for a meeting – they’ve
got to be there.”
On needing more connectivity:
“norway’s quite a trek for people,
it’s often two flights, apart from
stavanger now, which i believe, is
still one flight, so that makes it a
lot easier. it means three days out
of the office, because they’ll take a
day to get there, the next day’s the
meeting, and then a whole other
day to get back”.