JBS Group: world-leading renewable tech from Scotland

Selling to European and US space companies

With international growth as the goal, JBS adopted a ‘co-operate to accumulate’ strategy and diversified its services beyond fabrication. Bolstering its healthy balance sheets, they now include excavation technology, blast containment systems and screw conveyors. This has seen the company garner an international reputation. 

The company’s blast containment systems are an example of the innovator’s entrepreneurial spirit. These systems are used in Scotland’s space sector, predicted to be worth £4 billion by 2030, as well as the aerospace and defence industries.

“We sell into European and US space and aerospace companies such as GE, Rolls Royce and LEON. JBS has also reached out to one of Scotland’s own home-grown space companies in Skyrora, and has joined the nation’s industry agency, Space Scotland,” adds Jo McIntosh, Director of Sales & Marketing.

Home and overseas, JBS Group ensures it can traverse the peaks and troughs of different markets with its multidisciplinary business model and diverse product lines. In turn, this tactic goes a long way to future-proof the company. 

Alongside this, the company ensures its skills, manufacturing capabilities, materials and processes are transferrable across the sectors it specialises in. This supports a consistent flow of business. It also gives the firm's 55-strong team the opportunity to switch between sectors, enrich skills and keeps working days varied and rewarding. 

Jo says: “One of the great aspects of working here is that someone could be at a local biogas plant one day, the next they could be at a space facility in another part of the world. The key benefit of Scotland’s multi-skilled talent pool is its capability to easily switch between high value sectors.”

Scaling innovation in skills and technology

An interdependency across skills and sectors enables JBS to be agile, nimble and versatile to capture new business worldwide. The company thrives on nurturing Scotland’s diverse talent in engineering, tech and energy, from grass roots graduates to seasoned professionals.

“I’ve always had a good opinion of people in North East Scotland who have a great work ethic and skillset. Over 60% of our colleagues started on an apprenticeship scheme. We invest a great deal in our team – from working with schools right across to colleges and universities," Jo adds.

JBS cultivates much of its talent through a partnership with Aberdeen University, NESCol University and Peterhead Academy. Training talent in this way is vital for expanding and enriching the business. The youngest are pupils in secondary year three who work at JBS eight weeks a year. Modules encompass broad disciplines, for example learning about biogas as part of energy transition, and space. These are two fast-growing industries actively supported by Scottish Enterprise. 

Scaling innovation in skills and technology plays a big part in the company’s strategy. The firm is seeing increasing demand at home and globally for its Sea Axe Controlled Flow Excavation system. This solution is designed to allow environmentally responsible subsea excavation for cable trenching, pipeline burial, decommissioning, and seabed levelling.

The Sea Axe has multiple applications and has been deployed in the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Freeportopens in a new window, a key project in Scotland’s booming energy transition sector. 

With its focus on diversification and innovation, JBS is an exemplar of Scotland’s proven legacy in energy, manufacturing and engineering. This is being recognised globally: the company's order books are rapidly filling up across the Middle East, Asia, America and Africa. 

Team Scotland support, home and abroad 

The company has received help and support from several Team Scotland partners. Alongside the universities and Scottish Enterprise, this has included Scottish Development International (SDI), GlobalScot and Skills Development Scotland.    

With this help, JBS has explored several overseas markets. The firm knew it needed a clear branding strategy to enter these markets more effectively, and received guidance with new business direction, an innovative culture and enhanced capabilities.

Marion Murray, SDI Specialist in Global Trade & Energy Transition, says: "JBS is an absolute pleasure to work with as part of our international portfolios. The company is proactive with new innovative ideas, and is a credit to our supply chain in Scotland."

JBS is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint by adopting leaner processes and procedures through the Scottish Enterprise Net Zero Academy (NZA). This was delivered by the Scottish Enterprise Sustainability Specialist Team. The firm also had an operational review with Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS).