Engineer firm set to axe nearly 500 jobs

Engineering group Doosan Babcock is to cut almost 500 jobs across its UK sites, with the majority in scotland.

the company said 270 jobs are under review at its renfrew base, which employs 800 workers.

its machining and assembly plant in the town will close, with 140 positions affected.

the firm said the bulk of the remaining posts are in management and back-office support.

A total of 470 jobs are to be cut from Doosan’s 3,800-strong UK workforce and a consultation has begun with affected staff.

Union bosses criticised the company for beginning the process with little notice in the run-up to Christmas. Doosan, which provides services to the energy, pharmaceutical and petrochemical sectors, said it foresees a ‘longterm downturn in certain market sectors which mean the current position is unsustainable’.

A spokesman said the renfrew plant will continue to focus on areas such as thermal, nuclear, and renewables.

the remaining job losses will be spread among UK sites, including

‘Angered and dismayed’

gateshead, the West midlands and Crawley, West sussex.

Chief executive Andrew Hunt said Doosan had been working to rebalance the business for a ‘lowcarbon future’. He added: ‘it is with much regret we now have to enter into the statutory consultation period on redundancies.

‘this is particularly difficult for a company which places great importance on staff development and we will do our utmost to support our colleagues during this period of change.’

Unite regional officer Alison macLean said: ‘We are angered and dismayed that the company has started a consultation with virtually no notice to the union and without giving a clear breakdown of where it wants to make changes. pushing ahead at this time of this year is particularly distressing for our members.’

she added that Unite will seek a meeting with the firm for further information and to ensure workers’ rights are protected.