Dyson to slash quarter of UK workforce in global restructure

Dyson, the British technology company renowned for its innovative household appliances, has announced plans to cut approximately 1,000 jobs in the UK as part of a global restructuring effort.

This move will reduce the company's British workforce by more than 25 per cent, affecting its operations across sites in Wiltshire, Bristol, and London.

The company, founded by Sir James Dyson in 1991, currently employs around 3,500 people in the UK out of a global workforce of 15,000. Chief executive officer Hanno Kirner explained the decision, stating, "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. Dyson operates in increasingly fierce and competitive global markets, in which the pace of innovation and change is only accelerating."

Despite the job cuts, Dyson affirmed its commitment to maintaining the UK as a major research and development hub. The company's Malmesbury site will continue to house the Dyson Institute, where undergraduate engineers work on projects and study simultaneously.

The restructuring comes amid growing competition in Asian markets, where Dyson faces local rivals quickly replicating their products. This challenge partly influenced the company's controversial decision to move its corporate headquarters to Singapore in 2019, a move that raised eyebrows given Sir James Dyson's vocal support for Brexit.

Dyson has diversified its product range in recent years, expanding from vacuum cleaners to hairdryers, air purifiers, and even venturing into wearable technology with air-purifying headphones. The company has also expressed ambitions in robotics, aiming to develop household chore-performing machines by 2030.

As the company navigates these changes, Kirner acknowledged the impact on employees, stating, "cutting jobs is always incredibly painful," and promised support for those affected.



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