Scottish subsea technology firm Film-Ocean has opened a new office in Newcastle, marking a strategic expansion into the North East. The company, which has a turnover of £28 million, says the move will give it access to a growing talent pool in ROV project management and technical support.
New Base at Cobalt Business Exchange
The new office is located at the Cobalt Business Exchange in North Tyneside, chosen partly for its sustainability credentials. The site features a 39-acre biodiversity park with wildflower meadows, wildlife habitats, and initiatives for carbon reduction and sustainable travel. Film-Ocean says this aligns with its own environmental values and those of its clients.
The office will serve as an operational and project delivery base, enhancing the company's technical support capabilities and enabling closer collaboration with clients and partners across the region.
Growth and Market Expansion
Film-Ocean, headquartered in Aberdeenshire, is an independent subsea contractor providing remotely operated vehicle (ROV) inspection and intervention services to the global offshore energy industry. It operates a large fleet of work class, inspection class, and micro-class ROVs, supplied with crew to locations worldwide.
The company says it has grown rapidly since the start of the year. Latest available accounts for 2025 show a significant jump in turnover and profits, driven by improved market conditions, renewal of legacy contracts, and strong utilisation of equipment.
Commitment to the North East
Sophie Bryce, commercial manager at Film-Ocean, said: "Expanding our UK footprint to Newcastle is about being closer to our clients and easier to work with — faster response times, closer day-to-day collaboration, and more capacity to take on new projects. Sustainability was also front of mind when choosing where to base our new office."
She added: "Cobalt's environmental credentials mean our growth in North East England is happening in a way that's consistent with how we operate at Ocean House in Aberdeenshire, and with the values our clients increasingly expect from their supply chain partners."
Regional Importance
The North East has emerged as a region of growing importance to the subsea and offshore energy industry, with a strong and expanding talent base. By establishing a presence in Newcastle, Film-Ocean aims to tap into that expertise for its worldwide operations.
The new office will also help the company build relationships with local clients and partners as it takes on more work in the region. The team at the Newcastle office includes project manager Abi Thompson, commercial manager Sophie Bryce, operations director Mike Mackie, and project manager Gary Mills.
