Business briefs: Amec | Utec | Dobbies

ENGINEERING firm Amec has won a two-year extension to its contract to provide gas producer BG Group with project management support in the North Sea.

The deal, worth about £110 million, runs until the end of 2015 and will also see Amec provide engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning services and follows on from a three-year contract awarded in 2011.

Under the original deal, Amec completed a number of major projects for BG, including the “topside modification” of platforms in its Armada and North Everest gas fields.

• Global survey contractor Utec has completed the acquisition of Livingston-based Star Net Geomatics for an undisclosed sum.

Houston-based Utec, which has 11 offices worldwide including Aberdeen, said the deal will “enhance and increase the range of laser scanning, dimensional control and 3D asset management services available to its global offshore and onshore clients”.

Star Net’s managing director Douglas Brown will continue to head the firm. He said: “This is an exciting milestone for our company.”

• Dobbies Garden Centres has hired Standard Life brand and communications chief Jo Coomber as its director of marketing.

Coomber said she was attracted by Dobbies’ “vision to become the UK’s leading garden retailer”.

James Barnes, chief executive of Dobbies, said: “Jo brings a wealth of experience from a wide cross-section of industries, encompassing all elements of marketing strategy. I am confident she will successfully lead the marketing team in assisting with the delivery of Dobbies’ vision.”