A major employer in the Highlands has confirmed it is planning for redundancies amid “extremely difficult times” caused by the oil and gas downturn.
The jobs could be axed at Global Energy Group’s Capital Projects Division, which was previously known as Isleburn Ltd, and is based at Evanton in Easter Ross.
One source at the firm claimed that almost 300 workers had been warned that their jobs could be at risk.
A spokesman for the firm insisted that redundancies would only be required in the “worst case scenario”, however, and that it would aim to keep the number to “as low a figure as possible”.
Isleburn Ltd previously had 767 full-time employees at its Evanton base, as well as facilities in Aberdeen, Deephaven, Invergordon and Nigg.
A company spokesman said: “Global Energy Group Capital Projects Division, formerly known as Isleburn Ltd, are facing the same problems as many companies affected by the major downturn in the oil and gas industry.
“Whilst we are busy in the delivery of various contracts within our many facilities, our manpower requirements are very fluid at this difficult time.
“We continue to work hard and are quoting on a number of contracts, but there is no certainty we will win these, although we remain cautiously optimistic.
“In a worst case scenario we will have to implement some redundancies which we will certainly do our best to keep to as low a figure as possible, depending on our contract situation and look ahead at that time.
“As a responsible employer, it is important we keep our workforce informed of our position.
“To this end, we have been in regular contact with the staff and their representatives to inform them of the position regarding the contracts and any likelihood of redundancies should we require to reduce the size of our workforce.
“These are extremely difficult times and we will do everything within our power to keep any redundancies to a minimum.”
Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith said: “I recall Isleburn talking about redundancies in the spring, so this might be it coming to fruition.
“As sad as it is, there is no surprise here, as the oil industry is so slow in recovering and it may never be the way it used to be.”
Global Energy Group was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Inverness.
It employs in excess of 3,500 personnel worldwide, and runs the Nigg Energy Park.
Chairman Roy MacGregor, who is also chairman of Ross County FC, acquired Evanton-based fabrication firm Isleburn in 2005.
Global revealed this year it would integrate and rebrand all of its oil and gas businesses under the same banner.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Mr MacGregor toured the Nigg yard on Tuesday as the first turbines for world’s largest tidal energy scheme were unveiled.
