Around 330 jobs could go at Aker Solutions and Sullom Voe

Shetland residents may be given some protection during the redundancy process at Sullom Voe

Around 260 staff working on refurbishing the Sullom Voe oil terminal could be facing redundancy.

Wood Group PSN and Bilfinger have announced a consultation with unions on reducing the size of the workforce.

These discussions are due to conclude on the 30 October, with workers potentially being laid off in November.

The news came as oil services firm Aker Solutions confirmed up to 70 posts will go from its UK subsea operations, headquartered in Aberdeen.

The union Unite said the "Shetland Islands Agreement" meant that Sullon Voe employees who live in the isles are less likely to lose their jobs.

A Wood Group PSN Spokesman said that the move is in response to changes in the scope of its maintenance work its being asked to carry out by Sullom Voe operator BP.

Meanwhile Aker Solutions, the Norway-listed firm, said it was cutting its workforce capacity because of "a continued market slowdown".

A 30-day redundancy consultation is now under way with representatives of its UK employees.

In September, Aker announced that about 500 permanent posts in Norway were under threat.

It also warned that about 400 jobs, mainly in subsea operations, were at risk outside of Norway.