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

Firstco in Dubai and Firstco (Mauritius) Ltd offer the same services as Firstco currently provides for its clients in the UK. These services 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 – and 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 as well as being 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, look after our administrative, commercial and legal interests there.”