AN energy sector engineer has played down claims it has cut North-East jobs to accommodate a £2.2bn takeover, despite workers saying they have been released.

Amec Foster Wheeler last night told The Northern Echo it is continuing as normal as bosses focus on completing Wood Group’s approach to strengthen the combined operation’s future presence in the offshore industry.

However, the Echo has been contacted by a number of people who say staff have already been released to make way for the deal, which is expected to be concluded later this year.

Amec is one of Darlington’s largest employers, providing work for hundreds of people who cover projects as well as recruitment and support processes, such as payroll work.

But the Echo, which last year revealed bosses were speaking to workers over the outsourcing of jobs to India, has been told some staff have been shed in preparation of the tie-up with Wood, which has admitted it will make operational and administrative changes to cut costs.

Those moves are expected to come from office closures and cuts to duplicate IT systems and support services.

However, an Amec spokesman last night refused to be drawn on any impact of staff, saying the company, which previously unveiled a target to save £120m by 2017 to overcome the oil and gas sector’s slowdown, was committed to getting the Wood deal done.

He told the Echo: “We have gone through a transformation programme.

“If everything goes to plan, the acquisition will happen in the fourth quarter. Until then, we really cannot say anymore.”

The update came as it was revealed Amec has offered to sell off a number of assets in an attempt to allay Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) concerns over Wood’s takeover.

The watchdog had warned the deal could face an indepth probe if the companies failed to address antitrust issues.

It believes the deal as it currently stands gives rise to concerns, particularly surrounding the supply of engineering and construction services, as well as operation and maintenance services in the North Sea.

However, the CMA is now considering fresh proposals, which would see Amec sell off “almost all” assets that contribute to these services in its upstream offshore oil and gas business in the UK.

It added there are “reasonable grounds” for believing these undertakings, or a modified version, might be acceptable and it will open a public consultation on the proposal.

Jon Lewis, Amec chief executive, said: “Our offer of a proposed remedy and the early commencement of the sale process to potential buyers of the upstream oil and gas business has ensured we have navigated this process ahead of schedule increasing the likelihood that the transaction with Wood will close in quarter four this year.”

Wood Group is known for managing operations at the Central Area Transmission System gas terminal, in Seal Sands, near Billingham.