Shell to close down BG’s UK offices

Anglo/Dutch oil company Shell will close down BG Group’s UK offices following the takeover completed in February 2016. 

Last December Shell announced that it would conduct a comprehensive review of the company’s office footprint in the UK.

Following media reports on Monday saying that Shell would shut down several BG’s offices located in the UK, Offshore Energy Today has reached out to Shell seeking confirmation of these reports.

In an e-mail, Shell’s spokesperson said the review has now been completed and the outcome, which is subject to appropriate engagement with employees and employee representatives, has been communicated to staff of the new combined Shell group in the UK.

In a speech given to staff at Thames Valley Park in Reading on Monday, Huibert Vigeveno, Transition CEO of BG, said: “We now have the outcomes of the UK Office Footprint Review. One of the review’s recommendations was to consolidate all Shell’s London and South East based operations into Central London. Our intention is therefore to close the Thames Valley Park campus by the end of this year.

“The review also recommended that all Aberdeen-based onshore operations move to the Shell Aberdeen Tullos office, with BG’s offices at Albyn Place closing by the end of this year, and the closure of Shell’s Brabazon House office in Manchester by the end of 2017.

“We are also planning to open a voluntary redundancy arrangement at Thames Valley Park. At the same time, from today, we will also open up access to all Shell current internal vacancies for all BG employees to have equal access to all the available opportunities in Shell.”

Shell CEO Ben van Beurden announced in January a reduction of some 10,000 staff and direct contractor positions in 2015-16 across both companies.

Offshore Energy Today Staff