The Aberdeen-based company, which launched its oilandgaspeople.com website at the Offshore Europe conference and exhibition in 2009, and has doubled its number of unique visitors in the past year to more than one million per month, is offering the free package in response to the global downturn in the industry in an effort to help match up recruiters and candidates more effectively.

The financial investment by successful entrepreneur Kevin Smith will allow Oil and Gas People to significantly upgrade its award-winning recruitment portal to make it the most accurate and responsive in the industry. It will also enable a potential doubling of staff to 10 in the next 12 months and the development of international locations in the Middle East, USA and Asia Pacific.

Mr Smith, who has a record of running and backing successful companies including oil and gas recruitment business Atlantic Resourcing and Offshore Marine Services, is providing a significant six-figure investment as well as invaluable experience to the company.

Alongside the recruitment aspect of the business, Oil and Gas People has also established itself as a focus for latest news on the industry.

Managing director Kevin Forbes, who will remain in post, said: “The business has been growing steadily over the years, to become the industry’s most popular job site, but this investment will enable us to reach the next level: to establish a one-stop platform for jobs and news.

“We are aiming to offer a free solution in these most challenging times, and our innovative business model, which is unique in oil and gas recruitment, will help us do that.”

Mr Smith said: “The growth of Oil and Gas People, from a standing start in 2009 to becoming the leader in its field today, has been impressive and I’m glad to be able to support Kevin and his team in pursuit of their ambitions.

“The new, unique business model is extremely exciting and it says much about the company’s commitment to supporting an industry that I know well. We often hear that innovation is needed at every level in the oil and gas sector to ensure its future, and Oil and Gas People has applied that message effectively to the recruitment arena.”

Under the new model, recruitment candidates receive a live, structured and detailed profile, which they are required to update at least every 60 days. The system allows them to turn their profile on or off, depending on their employment status. This allows candidates seeking work to advance on recruiter search lists and gives the recruiters the most accurate and up to date information on personnel availability.

The Oil and Gas People website is undergoing a significant update, including regionalisation for jobs, news and advertising.

A major source for driving traffic to the website is content. Oil and Gas People own some of the largest LinkedIn groups which culminates to almost two million members while its Facebook page reaches half a million people weekly.

“Aside from the development of the website and the ability to offer the free service, the investment will also allow us to increase the number of people in our news team, in business development and in administration,” said Mr Forbes.

“We’ve always tried to give people in the industry a voice and to help them find work. I now believe we have the ability to do that to a much greater level through our enhanced offering.”