A major north employer hit by the downturn in the oil and gas industry is making nearly 100 people redundant, on top of more than 500 jobs it has shed in the past year.
Inverness-based Global Energy Group (GEG) said the redundancies were among the “really difficult decisions” it has had to take to protect its companies.
The group, which has operations in Aberdeen and world-wide, recently suffered a blow when the firm behind a floating wind farm project due to be built at its Nigg Energy Park facility went into administration.
Around 90 jobs in Global’s fabrication operations around the Cromarty Firth are going in the latest round of cuts. The division, which includes the former Isleburn company, in Evanton, has borne the brunt of redundancies totalling “in excess of 500” in the past 12 months.
Global has closed two fabrication workshops, at Deephaven, near Evanton, and at the former smelter site in Invergordon.
The huge Nigg facility, bought by the company in 2011, is understood to currently have a skeleton staff of around 10.
Yesterday Global’s communications director Alastair Kennedy said: “The issues surrounding the oil and gas marketplace have been well documented and many companies have had to review their position, alter their business model and restructure to ensure they are properly equipped to address the downturn in this diminished market.
“Global is no different and it became apparent we needed to further reduce our cost base.
“To this end we have made some really difficult decisions, which included a further review of our extensive facilities and a further round of redundancies.
“These regrettable decisions were not taken lightly, but had to be progressed to ensure we were able to protect our companies and allow us to continue to pursue business across the multi energy marketplace.”
He added: “These redundancies across both blue and white collar workers, alongside our reduction in operational facilities, reflect our current position, but provide us with the ability to react to new business as and when the marketplace recovers.”
Nigg Energy Park is due to play a key role in the development of the Beatrice offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth.
The facility will be used as a reception and assembly centre and load-out point for project’s turbines, with work due to start next spring.
Family-run Global was founded in 2005 by serial entrepreneur Roy MacGregor, who is also chairman of Ross County Football Club.
Japan’s Mitsui corporation acquired a 25% stake in the business in 2012.
The group’s latest accounts showed pre-tax profits of £3.1million and turnover of £292million in the year to the end of March 2016.
The company currently employs around 3,000 people.
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