One of the world’s leading offshore deep-water drilling companies has chosen Liverpool for its new global service centre.
The decision by New York Stock Exchange listed Seadrill was today described as a ‘major coup’ for the city and a significant boost to its offshore and maritime sector credentials.
The move will create approximately 90 jobs in the city.
Seadrill owns and operates 53 offshore drilling rigs, with 16 more in construction, and employs over 10,000 people representing over 75 nationalities working across five continents
It provides services to the oil and gas sector on a global scale.
Operating in markets including Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East, Europe and North and South America, Seadrill is relocating its service centre from Dubai from where a small number of jobs are transferring with new posts created in Liverpool.
The decision to establish its service centre in Liverpool was driven by a number of factors.
The CEO and President of Seadrill, Per Wullf said, “Owing to the global nature of our business, it was important that we positioned our service centre in a location within the GMT time zone. This allows us to work in Asia with the morning; Africa, the Middle East and Europe at lunch time; and the Americas in the afternoon.
“Liverpool and the North West of England has excellent national and international transport links and a large talent pool to draw from. Add to these factors the city’s rich maritime heritage which has made it famous around the world, Liverpool adds up as the perfect location for us. We are delighted to be here and proud to add Liverpool to our list of office locations.”
Seadrill has an agreement, subject to ratification, to lease the entire fifth floor of No1 Mann Island in the heart of Liverpool city centre, which will house staff from the business’s human resources, IT and finance functions.
In addition to these key roles, a further series of administrative jobs will be created to support the business in its day-to-day global operation.
Speaking at a specially convened press conference, Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “I would personally like to welcome Seadrill to Liverpool. From a long list of different criteria, Seadrill has chosen Liverpool and chosen Liverpool on its merits.
“It is exactly this type of inward investment and such high value employment opportunities which we are working very hard to bring to the city. This is a major coup and further evidence that we remain the natural choice for businesses in the maritime sectors.
“We are sure that Seadrill will become an important and high profile part of the city’s and region’s business community.”
Robert Hough, chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Securing the global service centre for such a prestigious international maritime business as Seadrill is a fantastic investment for both the company and the City Region.
“Liverpool delivers a vibrant, world class maritime location for a world class maritime business. Seadrill will create approximately 90 highly attractive jobs for our local talent pool and we look forward to forging a long and successful partnership with them as they continue their global growth.”
It is expected that the new office will open in the first quarter of 2015 and become fully operational in the summer of 2015.
Prospective employees should log on to http://www.seadrillliverpoool.co.uk/to learn more about the new available roles.