Oil companies to shed hundreds of UK posts

The oil sector was dealt a fresh blow yesterday with news of hundreds of job cuts.

Conocophillips confirmed it will axe about 450 jobs across its UK operations between October this year and April 2020.

Aspokeswomanforthecompany said the move follows a voluntary redundancy programme triggered by plans to halt Southern North Sea production at Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal later this year.

The firm currently has 1,300 staff and contractors across the UK, more than half of whom are in Aberdeen.

Meanwhile, it emerged that 90 posts held by onshore staff and contractors at Petrofac are expected to go.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “Final decisions will only be made after full consultation with employees and their representatives.”

l Online retailer Shop Direct, which owns Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com, is closing three sites in Greater Manchester, impacting 2,000 jobs.