Dyson announces plans to axe a thousand jobs in the UK
Vacuum cleaner manufacturer Dyson has announced plans to axe 1,000 jobs in the UK.
The Wiltshire firm is looking to cut almost a third of its UK workforce as part of a global restructuring plan.
The company, which was founded by Sir James Dyson, has operations in Wiltshire and Bristol and is a major employer.
Chief executive Hanno Kirner said the redundancies had been decided following a review of worldwide operations commissioned earlier this year.
He said in a company statement: “We have grown quickly and, like all companies, we review our global structures from time to time to ensure we are prepared for the future.
“As such, we are proposing changes to our organisation, which may result in redundancies.
“Dyson operates in increasingly fierce and competitive global markets, in which the pace of innovation and change is only accelerating.
“We know we always need to be entrepreneurial and agile – principles that are not new to Dyson.
“Decisions which impact close and talented colleagues are always incredibly painful.
“Those whose roles are at risk of redundancy as a result of the proposals will be supported through the process.”
The company’s founder, billionaire investor Sir James Dyson, is one of the richest men in the UK.
The announcement came after the firm scrapped plans to develop an electric vehicle and launch a pair of noise-cancelling, air-purifying headphones.
The company has signalled that the UK would remain central for its research and development operations.
Dyson’s campus at Malmesbury had been the UK’s headquarters until 2019 when it moved to Singapore and will continue to be home to the Dyson Institute, which provides undergraduate engineering programmes.
Last year Dyson announced plans to invest £100m in a new research and development hub in central Bristol.
West of England mayor and newly elected North Somerset MP Dan Norris has written to Dyson following the announcement.
Mr Norris is also calling for a “cast-iron guarantee” that Dyson’s new £100 million research and development centre in Bristol – announced last year – will be built as planned.
The centre is planned for a Dyson-owned building opposite Castle Park, and which will employ “hundreds” of additional AI and software engineers.
Mayor Dan Norris MP said: “Clearly this is a very disappointing and worrying situation for everyone concerned, not least the brilliant 100 tech workers who find themselves at risk of losing their jobs in spite of the fundamental strengths of the Bristol office.
“I hope a solution can be found to keep as many jobs safe as possible in the West of England region, and I have asked for a cast-iron guarantee that the £100 million research and development centre will go ahead as planned.
“Locally, there are obviously limits to what the Mayoral Combined Authority can do but I have offered its full assistance, and have made it clear that we stand ready and will do all we can to support the company and workers to protect as many jobs as possible.”
