A FAMILY-RUN engineer hopes to take advantage of the “green shoots of recovery”

in the oil and gas sector after breaking through the 100-worker barrier.

Francis Brown Limited says it stands well-placed to continue expanding after a string of contracts bolstered its market presence.

However, bosses say the firm, founded in 1903 as a wire trap and soil sieve shop, is primed for even further growth, with turnover tipped to increase by a third.

The company, based in Stockton, provides design, fabrication, welding, machining, assembly and installation services across the oil and gas, chemical, renewable energy, nuclear and rail sectors.

Intrinsic to its recent growth has been work on the Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm, based off the Suffolk coast, and multiple fabrications for the Maersk Culzean offshore gas condensate field, in the central North Sea.

Jamie Brown, chief executive, said the company, which is training apprentices and has a number of staff with more than 25 years’ service, is in a strong position.

He said: “This year is demonstrating the many opportunities that lie ahead after what, for many, has been a challenging time in the oil and gas industry.

“For us, the success shows we have remained strong in our core sectors, while extending our skill set into emerging markets where we know growth is taking place.

“Now that the green shoots of recovery are emerging in the oil and gas market, we are confident that our business will continue to build on this success.

“This will be done by solidifying our position as a leader in fabrication and engineering solutions to that sector, while being recognised as a key provider to the vibrant offshore renewables, rail and nuclear industries.”

The Northern Echo previously revealed how the firm was seeing some of its more traditional business come back, such as maintenance and pressure vessel work on chemical plants, due to the prolonged lower oil price.

However, Mr Brown said the offshore energy sector was still strong, with equipment going to Angola, Malaysia and Turkey for oil work, while he added wind and tidal power projects had given its order book a lift.

The firm also previously revealed it was making stainless steel support structures for the Nyhamna onshore gas plant project, in Norway, and supplying five mooring buoys for the Canary Islands, to help offload oil from tankers.