Dyson has revealed plans to cut 1,000 jobs in the UK, amounting to more than a quarter of its UK workforce of 3,500. The decision comes following a review of the company’s global needs, according to a statement from the manufacturer known for its innovative vacuum cleaners and other products.
The job cuts are not linked to the upcoming UK general election, as the review process began beforehand. The company’s founder, Sir James Dyson, has previously criticized the Conservative government’s approach to economic growth and science.
Chief Executive Hanno Kirner explained the rationale behind the decision: “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,” Kirner concluded.
Despite the job cuts, Dyson signaled that the UK would remain a vital center for its research and development operations. The campus at Malmesbury in Wiltshire will continue to be home to the Dyson Institute, which provides undergraduate engineering programs.
The Malmesbury campus had been the company’s historic UK headquarters until 2019, when Sir James Dyson decided to shift headquarters to Singapore. The billionaire entrepreneur, who supported Brexit, denied that the move was a reaction to the UK’s departure from the European Union. Instead, the shift reflects Asia’s long-standing role as Dyson’s manufacturing base due to lower costs and its core growth market for sales.
