Jobs to go at BKS

The digital mapping firm, based at Ballycairn, yesterday confirmed that it regretted having to lose jobs because of the global recession.

A statement said: “The Board of Directors of Fugro-BKS Limited regrets to announce that it is proposing to cut its workforce by approximately 15% as a direct consequence of the economic downturn.

“This is a very regrettable situation that has arisen because spending cuts by some of the Company’s public sector clients has reduced the number of sales opportunities available to the Company.

“The Company has embarked on a process of consultation with its workforce in order to manage this difficult process in a way that minimises the uncertainty and concerns that staff will inevitably feel in any redundancy situation.

“The Company initially offered voluntary redundancy as an option to staff in the affected departments in the hope that voluntary redundancies will eliminate, or at least reduce, the need for compulsory redundancies.

“The Board of Directors is conscious of the pain that this will cause to any affected employees and has only taken this difficult decision as a last resort.

“The Board has been forced to take this step as a short-term response to the current economic downturn and short work programmes faced by the Company.

“Despite this, the Board remains confident that the longer term future of the Company in Coleraine is secure and that the parent company, Fugro NV, remains committed to the future of Fugro-BKS as a source of expertise and specialist technical knowledge within its Geospatial business-line.

Fugro-BKS provides aerial imaging, digital mapping and data capture services to the public and private sectors.