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J+S celebrates strong year with global award

Subsea controls engineering specialists J+S Subsea have lifted the Operational Support Company of the Year title in the Corporate LiveWire Global Awards.

The Aberdeenshire-based business has taken the top spot in the awards, based on its quality of service, innovation and sustainability initiatives.

Managing director Phil Reid said: “We pride ourselves on understanding customer drivers and priorities so receiving this award is brilliant recognition for our efforts”

“We like to celebrate our success, but we don’t intend to rest on our laurels. An upturn in new work from emerging marketplaces has seen us deploy on decommissioning projects and inspection, repair and maintenance campaigns. We moved to new larger premises in Kintore two years ago, to acquire larger workshops and stores, as well as accommodate a growing team.”

“Our reputation within the industry for supplying quality and value is very important to us.”

Engineering solutions

The company was formed two years ago, following a management buy-out, to focus on delivering competitive and timely engineering solutions within the supply chain.

J+S Subsea spotted an opportunity to bring together an experienced team with the knowledge and expertise to push the net zero agenda in the North Sea oil & gas industry.

As well as offering design, maintenance and engineering solutions for subsea equipment, their Legacy Locker initiative introduces a circular economy into the industry by optimising the value of existing, unwanted capital equipment.

Industry recognition has come through a steady stream of awards success.

Their work on the Legacy Locker was shortlisted for the Excellence in Collaboration award at the Decom North Sea awards two years ago and they were a finalist in Best Small Company in the Subsea Expo awards earlier this year.

They were also finalists in the Manufacturing & Engineering Start-Up category of the national StartUp Awards, and recently business development engineer Tom Hutchison was announced as a Rising Star finalist in the Northern Star Business Awards 2023.

The Corporate LiveWire Global Awards have been running for the last decade and involve over 25,000 votes cast by voters from 32 countries.

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Phil Reid Managing Director >>

Phil has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 25 years. He started his career with Kvaerner FSSL progressing through a variety of roles in subsea engineering, from manufacturing to leading some of their most complex projects all over the world. He worked with the original J+S for a period before moving on to Genesis Oil and Gas as a Subsea Controls Engineering consultant; during that period, he was seconded to Centrica Energy (now Spirit Energy) which led to a permanent role as Lead Subsea Controls & Umbilical Engineer for Developments, Capital Projects and Operated Assets. For almost a decade Phil successfully delivered Capital Projects from concept right through to project close out whilst also looking after the running of their subsea assets.

As part of J&S Subsea limited, Phil will oversee the day-to-day operations and grow the business both in the UK and globally. 

James Morris – Engineering Director

James’s career started when he joined the Royal Navy from school as an Artificer Apprentice. After a 5-year Marine Engineering Apprenticeship he served in surface ships HMS Glamorgan, HMS Edinburgh, and HMS Glasgow and at Rosyth as part of an engineering support team. 

Moving into the Oil & Gas Industry in 1992, over the next 26 years he gained a wealth of experience within large and small companies on operation, design and project management of subsea control systems and equipment. This period started with several years as a Project Engineer for a family run hydraulic services company Grampian Hydraulics followed by 5 years as a Support Engineer at Kvaerner Oilfield Products.  James joined RRC Controls Services ltd in 2001 before finally moving to J+S Ltd in 2010. At J+S his dedication and technical capabilities were rewarded with several promotions until becoming a member of the management buyout team. 

He has designed an extensive array of subsea equipment from basic cable penetrators to complete subsea control modules. 

James thrives on providing solutions for client’s problems. 

As Engineering Director, James will ensure that the company provides clients with timely, cost effective and technically sound solutions and services. 

Simon Smith – Business Development Director
Simon has worked in the oil and gas sector for over 20 years. He started his career as a planning co-ordinator for offshore development systems and has since been involved in both surface and subsea operation management both locally and overseas with Wood Group, Plexus Ocean Systems and Cameron’s before joining J+S Ltd in 2012 as a Senior Account Engineer. J+S Ltd then became part of SEA Ltd and the Cohort Group where Simon was promoted to Business Development Manager in 2019 before taking part in the management buyout of the Aberdeen based subsea division of SEA to form J&S Subsea Limited.
Simon initially studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Edinburgh University and later Engineering Design at The Robert Gordon University and recently became a Certified Project Management Associate through APM. Simon has experience with on and offshore support along with efficiency and safety control and has utilised this to deliver large scale projects for international clients in the energy industries.
As part of J&S Subsea limited, Simon plans to help grow the Subsea Energy business both in the UK and globally while championing a circular economy focus to help provide a better future.
Simon Smith

Matthew Blair – Executive Chairman

Matt Blair is Chairman of J+S Subsea which was formed in October 2020 through a management buyout of the Subsea Engineering Division of Systems Engineering and Assessment Ltd. 

With J+S Subsea and SEA for over 14 years, Matt has a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise.  Matt works closely with Oil company subsea engineering and production controls departments, supporting their subsea operational assets. 

Previously an Electronics Engineer with Ferranti Computer Systems Ltd specializing in sonar and command systems, Matt moved into hydrographic survey working with Subsea7, Tritech, and CDL before joining J+S Subsea.  

He is Vice Chair of the Decom Leadership Group of Decom North Sea and in that role has facilitated industry and academic studies on potential for reuse and repurposing of decommissioned equipment.   

Matt is seeking further opportunities to update and transfer Oil and Gas technologies and products into the Marine Renewables markets and help to develop the broader circular economy.