Specialist recruitment company MDE moves to Bristol and creates 320 new jobs31st January 2013

Norwegian company MDE Group, which specialises in recruiting staff for oil and gas deepwater and greenfield projects around the globe, has taken an office in Newminster House in Baldwin Street, Bristol, as the centre of its UK operations.

The specialist recruitment company opened its Bristol office as a result of the city’s growing reputation as an energy centre and is set to create 20 new jobs in the next 18 months.

Managing director Tom Nixon said: “Bristol is an exciting and growing hub for energy-related companies, with some very skilled people in the area.”

The company has leased 2,431 sq ft on the fourth floor of the recently refurbished Newminster House on a five year lease, with letting agents Knight Frank and Colliers acting jointly on behalf of landlord LaSalle Investment Management.

Tom Nixon said: “We looked at a number of properties and Newminster House offered a perfect location with easy access for everyone, plus car parking.

The move by MDE follows the recent announcement that energy company GE Oil & Gas would be creating 200 jobs in Bristol by opening an underwater engineering centre at Aztec West.

Growing engineering consultancy Sinclair Knight Merz recently doubled its presence at Newminster House when it leased an additional 1,450 sq ft of office space at the building. The expansion follows its acquisition of Colin Buchanan, which already had 1500 sq ft in the building. SKM technical director Chris Pyatt said: “We are introducing new people and new services to the South West and the Newminster House offices provide a good base from which to expand.”