Redundant Dundee electrical workers rescued by Richard Irvin Energy Solutions

17 Oct 2017

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A mechanical and electrical (M&E) firm has doubled its presence in Dundee by recruiting some of the workers made redundant by the collapse of Scottish Electric Group.

Richard Irvin Energy Solutions (RIES), which specialises in M&E engineering and technical facilities management (TFM), opened its Dundee office in 2014.

RIES has hired 12 members of staff to take its total headcount in the city to 24.

Ninety-nine staff were made redundant after Vasanat International Ltd, trading as Scottish Electric Group, was placed in provisional liquidation on August 29.

The company offered a range of professional electrical services and was working alongside Balfour Beatty providing mechanical and electrical works on the hotel element of the new £28 million Dundee train station.

RIES is already very active in Dundee, Fife and Tayside and provides M&E projects to a number of organisations, including Dundee City Council, Ninewells Hospital, the University of Dundee and the University of St Andrews.

Its current projects include the refurbishment of the Perth crematorium with Morrison Construction, which is expected to complete in December, and the firm is also active within Perth & Kinross Council’s framework with Hadden Construction.

Kevin Shinnie, head of RIES’s M&E division, said: “This is not only a boost for our company but also for the wider business community in Dundee.

“We were disappointed to hear that Scottish Electric Group had fallen into liquidation and so we are delighted that we can help many of those workers affected by the collapse of their former employer.

“Being able to strengthen our business and the services that we supply to our at the same time as supporting the local economic is great.”

Mr Shinnie added: “This is a very exciting time for Dundee – the construction of the Victoria & Albert Museum will act as a catalyst to stimulate the local economy, not just on the waterfront but in the wider city.

“Hiring these talented members of staff will help us to meet demand for our existing customers and make sure we’ve got the right mix of skills for the years ahead.”