Oil and gas producer BG Group has begun offering voluntary redundancy to staff at its British headquarters, the company said, as it seeks to reduce headcount and trim costs.

BG Group has been hit by lower than expected production rates, having downgraded output forecasts several times over the past two years, and is now focusing on streamlining its operations.

"We have invited UK contracted employees based at our head office in Reading to express their interest in a voluntary redundancy package," a company spokesman said yesterday.

BG Group employs 1,100 staff at its head office in Reading, England, and has a total workforce of 5,200 worldwide. "There is no target for the number of applications (to the voluntary redundancy scheme)," the spokesman said.

The Times newspaper reported that BG Group was cutting nearly 300 jobs in Britain and planning significant job cuts in Australia.-Reuters