Firstco establishes companies in Dubai and Mauritius

Firstco, the technical consultancy, project management and systems integration specialist, has opened companies in Dubai and Mauritius.

Firstco LLC in Dubai, and, in Mauritius, Firstco (Mauritius) Ltd offer the same services as Firstco currently provides for its clients in the UK. These include a full range of consultancy, project management, turnkey systems delivery, on-going support and upgrade services to the operator and end user in industries including transport – air and rail – as well as in building management systems.

Firstco’s chairman, Mark Calnan, explained: "It was some of our colleagues, with whom we had worked on projects in the UK, who invited Firstco to go to Dubai.

"We visited Dubai in spring 2006 and discovered a number of business opportunities across a range of industrial sectors. The first of these was a consultation role on the new Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport.

"Dubai and the surrounding region are among the most exciting development areas on the planet," he added.

Firstco LLC has a small permanent staff, with other workers being hired locally and trained in the Firstco method of delivering solutions. Where appropriate, resources can also be brought from the UK as required.

Calnan commented: "We expect our Dubai subsidiary to grow to the size of the current UK business – that is, a turnover of some £4m a year – within five years."

Calnan added: "Last September, The Mauritius Government’s Board of Investment invited us to view some of the development opportunities available in their country. Consequently, we have established Firstco (Mauritius) Ltd, employing a number of local engineering graduates, while a Mauritian company, Loita Group Services, looks after our administrative, commercial and legal interests there."

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Notes for Editors:

About Firstco

Established in 1998, Firstco is now a major force in the areas of technical consultancy, project management and systems integration. Working in a range of industries – notably transport, especially sub-surface rail installations and airports; power and construction – Firstco specialises in controls and communication solutions for assignments of all sizes from buildings through to large scale infrastructure projects.

Firstco’s in-house team includes specialists in: controls and communications systems, systems integration,, control room operations, software engineering, consulting, project management and commissioning management.
Through its core services of consultancy, system delivery and project management, Firstco provides its clients with a total solution - from concept to commissioning and maintenance, based on collaboration and integration with clients and partners.

Its mission is to advise, deliver and support high quality control and communications solutions that improve transport and workplace environments, create value for clients and make a positive difference to their end users.

Firstco’s approach is based on four core values:

• Service Excellence - achieving client confidence by truly understanding the business drivers and the project requirements, delivering the agreed solution to plan, managing issues and communicating clearly and regularly - while being easy to do business with and enjoyable to work with.
• Integrity - applying professional and technical expertise to ensure the right solution for the right reasons, as well as being open, honest and fair in all of its dealings.
• Teamwork - deploying the right blend of talent and experience to get the job done, and integrating effectively with client and third party personnel and activities.
• Development - continually seeking to enhance its own capabilities and processes, enabling it to remain innovative and challenging - and sharing this with its clients.

Firstco’s clients include: BAA Heathrow Airport Ltd; Esso Petroleum; Heathrow Express Operating Company; Crossrail, London Underground Ltd; Morgan Stanley; Arup Associates; Balfour Kilpatrick; Landis & Gyr; EdF Energy, Mott MacDonald, Scott Wilson and Crown House.

Further information from:
David Bligh / Rupert Exham, Firstco, 0207 034 0833; www.firstco.uk.com
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405