Dr Liam Fox MP Visits Viper Subsea

July 19, 2012

The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox, MP for North Somerset, visited the company’s headquarters in Portishead on Friday 13th July 2012 and praised Viper Subsea for its successful export strategy, which has contributed to the company’s rapid expansion and a record current order book value.

Dr Liam Fox MP, who travels to Azerbaijan on Wednesday (18th July), where Viper Subsea has recently won a major contract, said “This is a perfect opportunity for what we politicians should always be doing to champion businesses in the global market. This (Viper Subsea) is an example of British enterprise at its best, overcoming domestic economic difficulties and looking for global markets and finding them because of the quality of, and price of, the products that the company offers. I am extremely impressed with the self confidence and commitment of all the staff and the strong personal commitment they show to the long term viability of the company.”

90% of Viper Subsea’s business is export work. The company provides consultancy and designs and manufactures innovative engineering products in the UK which it sells to the oil and gas sector worldwide. Neil Douglas, Managing Director of Viper Subsea said “Obviously, the timing of the visit was excellent with Dr Fox heading off to Azerbaijan just five days after meeting with us. To have your local MP promote your business on his travels to further increase the export potential is fabulous.”

The Subsea industry in the South West employs approximately 1,000 people directly as well as in jobs associated with support functions. Within Dr Fox’s constituency, around 700 people are directly employed in the industry. The world market for subsea products is forecast to double in size in the next five years and Viper Subsea arranged the visit with Dr Fox MP in order to highlight the importance of the sector to the region and to emphasise the importance of the sector nationally for job creation and exporting.