22 Oct Interview with Jo McIntosh, Director of Sales & Marketing, JBS Group, Scotland
In 2024, Scotland’s engineering and manufacturing sector employed over 135,000 people — more than 5% of the national workforce. What factors have enabled Scotland to build a world-class engineering and manufacturing sector?
Mike McCafferty: JBS has been trading for some time, but about eight years ago we bought the business when it was focused solely on Scotland’s oil and gas sector, with no international presence. Since then, we have expanded our products and now operate in over 80 countries, with the US as one of our largest markets. There is a strong connection between Scotland and the US, especially in oil and gas. Aberdeen is Europe’s oil and gas capital and many of the skills developed here have transferred to Houston and then worldwide. Wherever we go, we meet people who started their careers in Scotland’s energy sector. From that base, we expanded into new areas, including space. Today, we work with Blue Origin, NASA, SpaceX and others, building the next International Space Station, supplying equipment and services from Scotland.
Our business is closely tied to the US. We have two key American partners — one in Dallas Fort Worth and one in Amsterdam, New York — and together we serve clients globally. While many US firms focus domestically, our worldwide reach complements them perfectly. Beyond oil and gas, we are active in renewables. Despite political challenges in the US, we are currently involved in a major offshore wind farm on the East Coast. We also work with companies like NRG Energy, Koch Industries, GE and Boeing. The US-Scotland connection continues to be vital for our growth.
JBS Group has evolved from a local fabrication shop into a global engineering solutions provider. Can you highlight JBS Group’s capabilities and market position?
Jo McIntosh: Our success comes down to two things: our people and our products. We are fortunate in Scotland to have a highly skilled workforce, many of whom started as apprentices with us and have stayed on. Beyond technical ability, they bring the right attitude — able to connect with clients across industries and adapt to projects worldwide, whether onshore, offshore or overseas. We give our teams opportunities to work across divisions, from subsea excavation for renewables to projects with leading space companies. Over 60% of our staff began as apprentices and our retention reflects the career growth we offer and the people’s pride in their work.
At the same time, we have diversified. Our patented Sea Axe subsea excavation tool is well-suited to offshore wind projects and we are active in Europe, Asia and the US in trenching and reburying cables. We also support global decommissioning efforts, alongside our in-house manufactured products such as blast containment solutions and conveyors used on drilling rigs worldwide. We recently rebranded to better reflect our global reach, moving beyond just oil and gas. Whether in energy, renewables or space, our reputation is built on the same foundation: a skilled, committed team and innovative products made in Scotland.
Beyond oil and gas, we also work in emerging technologies and even the whiskey industry, supporting distilleries and maltings. What oil and gas has given us is a strong foundation in procedures, compliance and health and safety — skills that transfer seamlessly into other sectors like space and renewables. Internationally, this discipline is highly valued. For example, in Asia we were asked if our teams could adapt culturally, but our experience in regulated industries meant it was never a concern. The engineering rigor from oil and gas helps us design and validate new products for renewables and space, supported by detailed verification, assessments and reporting. That approach is something clients find unique and reassuring.
Mike McCafferty: We truly understand and enjoy the US market, whereas many Scottish companies find it intimidating. Two of our three main business partners are American, which shows how central the US is to us. The US leads globally in oil, gas and space, so working with companies like ExxonMobil, Blue Origin, SpaceX and NASA give us strong validation internationally — if you can work with them, others know you’re already proven. It’s not just about business scale; we also value the culture and the way partnerships are built in the US, which is why it’s such a natural and successful fit for us.
The US space industry is a major focus for us, from the International Space Station to the upcoming Artemis III Moon mission. Oil and gas also remain important, as many major decisions in the sector are made in the US, even for projects in Singapore or Dubai. We are also exploring opportunities in energy and subsea excavation. For example, the US Army Corps of Engineers — the world’s largest dredging organization — still uses decades-old equipment. Introducing them to our modern, efficient technology could be a huge opportunity for collaboration.
Can you describe the Sea Axe controlled flow excavation technology and its competitive advantages? How has it been used in real-world projects, such as time-sensitive port operations?
Jo McIntosh: Our patented CFE system is an evolution of mass flow excavation, using seawater to create a natural, highly controllable erosion effect. It’s the most environmentally friendly way to excavate the seabed — quiet, vibration-free and safe to use around live pipelines and cables without shutdowns. In fact, remorseoperated vehicle footage shows marine life swimming alongside our tool as it operates.
The system is in high demand for offshore wind farms, telecoms, renewables and decommissioning. For example, we recently worked with Amazon and Microsoft to safely rebury a sensitive fiber optic cable, using sonar guidance to ensure precision with no damage. Sea Axe offers strong performance, a low environmental footprint and efficiency that reduces costly vessel time. While traditional dredges are still common in the US, they are disruptive and noisy. We see real opportunity for our technology there, particularly for more complex, sensitive subsea projects.
What innovations are currently defining these two product lines and why are they gaining traction across such diverse industries?
Jo McIntosh: Each solution is bespoke: clients come to us with specific risks and we model, design and adapt systems to protect personnel, equipment and infrastructure. These aren’t off-the-shelf products, they are tailored for environments ranging from nuclear submarines and combat ships to drilling rigs, recycling plants and even space projects. Our technologies are used by the US and UK military, on the latest naval ships and submarines, in the next International Space Station and even in GE’s electrification of aircraft. To be part of these cutting-edge projects, we have to keep pushing innovation forward and that is exactly what defines us.
Mike McCafferty: We offer an electric hydraulic power unit, eliminating diesel emissions, reducing noise pollution and removing the risk of spills — another step in making subsea excavation more sustainable. We are also continually innovating in blast containment.
What role does sustainability play in JBS’ long-term strategy, both in terms of product development and client partnerships?
Jo McIntosh: We have upgraded equipment for efficiency, switched to electric and hybrid vehicles, use biodegradable oils, LEDs and run a paperless office. We are part of Scotland’s Net Zero program, with a dedicated staff member driving continuous improvements. For us, it’s a work in progress, but one we are genuinely passionate about.
Mike McCafferty: Sustainability is something we take seriously. On sunny days, our building is fully powered by solar and we even charge vehicles from that surplus energy, selling the excess back to the grid. While travel remains a challenge, we assess and offset where possible.
Scotland needs over 124,000 new engineers and technicians annually to meet national demand. At JBS, talent development is core to success — more than 60% of the workforce began as apprentices. How would you evaluate Scotland’s current talent pool in industrial engineering and fabrication?
Jo McIntosh: Our goal is long-term careers. We want people to grow with us, find their niche and enjoy the opportunities our global client base provides. We are passionate about retention that supports both professional and personal growth.
Mike McCafferty: We are fortunate to be based in the northeast of Scotland, surrounded by offshore wind farms and major renewable projects. One example is the $5.3 billion Greenlink Project, which connects offshore wind to the grid and transports energy through Europe. We worked on its subsea excavation between Ireland and Wales and the next phase includes onshore structures and large-scale battery storage nearby. This region is also home to Scotland’s first carbon capture plant, recently announced. Altogether, these projects will require thousands of additional skilled workers, which is why we actively engage with local schools to help build the future workforce. We are part of the Peterhead Learning Partnership, where local school students join us for two 10-week programs each year to explore different skills and career paths.
Alongside this, we run our own training scheme, supporting young engineers, graduates and apprentices through every stage, from hands-on workshop experience to sales, travel and further education at college or university. Our teams consistently receive positive feedback worldwide, especially in the US. Looking ahead, we plan to establish a facility in the US, supported by talent from Scotland.
What is your personal vision and ambitions for the company and where would you like to take it in the next 5 years?
Jo McIntosh: We are ambitious about growth, but it must never compromise our values, service or operational quality. We focus on growing carefully and deliberately, ensuring we deliver on time and maintain our standards. Awareness of our work is increasing and more clients are coming to us, but we want growth to be considered, not reactive, so we stay true to what defines JBS.
What is your final message for USA Today readers?
Jo McIntosh: Scotland achieves remarkable things from a small island. For a company based in Peterhead to operate in 84 countries across so many industries is a testament to our values and expertise. Scottish innovation, combined with our skilled teams and advanced technology, makes us a strong partner for US companies and we are eager to share that globally.
Mike McCafferty: Scotland has top-tier technologies and teams, making us an ideal partner for US companies.