Job losses expected at Skanska McNicholas

Skanska McNicholas employees working for Metronet are bracing themselves for a round of redundancies.

The company said it expected redundancies to be "in the teens" following a consultation last week.

It added that both blue and white collar workers are likely to be affected. A source told CJ that this was likely to mean senior and middle management, as well as site managers.

In a statement, a Skanska spokeswoman said: "As a result of the prolonged slowdown of work linked to the administration of Metronet, Skanska has consulted some of its employees working in this sector and advised that some positions could be at risk.

"Every effort is being made to find alternative positions within other areas of the Skanska organisation."

Skanska bought McNicholas (also known as Brown Macs) for around £50m in December 2006 and combined it with its Utilities Operating Unit, to make a £300m-turnover operation with around 2,000 direct employees.