Dyson job cuts: One third of vacuum company's UK workforce to go
Entrepreneur James Dyson established the company in 1991.
BBC News reports on events happening in the western part of England.
Around 1,000 jobs in the UK are in danger at Dyson due to a worldwide restructuring effort.
The company, most famous for creating the vacuum cleaner without a bag, announced that they made this choice due to intense competition in worldwide markets.
CEO Hanno Kirner stated that the decision will help Dyson be ready for what lies ahead, and also mentioned that the company will be providing assistance to those facing the possibility of losing their jobs.
Dyson has 3,500 workers in the United Kingdom and has offices located in Wiltshire, Bristol, and London.
Mr. Kirner stated that the business operates in "extremely competitive global markets" and must be "innovative and adaptable".
Making choices that affect our friends and skilled coworkers is always very difficult.
"Employees who may lose their jobs due to the suggestions will receive help throughout the procedure," Mr. Kirner stated.
Roz Savage, the recently elected Member of Parliament for the South Cotswolds representing the Liberal Democrat party, expressed her concerns about the announcement.
She expressed: "It is significant. Malmesbury is a tight-knit community and I believe that if individuals are at risk of losing their jobs, then the entire community will feel their pain. This will have a ripple effect on local businesses and the economy as a whole."
"This news could have a huge impact and I am deeply troubled."
I will do everything in my power to help those affected during this uncertain period.
Mr. Clewer, who is in charge of economic development as a councillor, expressed his deep regret upon hearing the announcement. He noted that a significant number of Dyson employees are located in Wiltshire.
In 2019, Sir James relocated Dyson's main office to Singapore.
Professor Andrew Graves, an expert in mechanical engineering and political science from the University of Bath, mentioned that people within the industry were not shocked by the news and had been raising concerns about this issue for quite a while.
"Throughout the globe, there is fierce competition when it comes to Dyson products, and unfortunately many of their recent products have not been successful," he remarked.
"They allocated two billion dollars for the construction of an electric vehicle in Hullavington, but ultimately retracted the funds soon after recognizing the project's complexity."
"In addition, some of their most recent products have not performed well in the market, causing them to struggle in various areas currently."
"He mentioned that this is a significant reduction in expenses."
Professor Graves explained that if there were widespread layoffs, it would have a "devastating" impact on the community of Malmesbury.
Sir James Dyson Ranks Fifth In Wealth List
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the company decided to reduce its workforce by laying off 600 employees in the UK and an additional 300 globally. This decision was based on the shifting consumer behavior towards purchasing goods.
Dyson was created by inventor Sir James Dyson, who ranks fifth on the Sunday Times Rich list with a personal fortune of £20.8 billion.
The choice to reorganize was made prior to the general election being announced.
Before, the ultra-rich individual had criticized the government for its "foolish" and "narrow-minded" perspective on the economy and business in the UK.
He mentioned that the concept of growth had a negative connotation while Rishi Sunak was in power.
Sir James strongly supported Brexit, arguing that it had restored the UK's sense of independence and pride.
He received backlash for relocating the company's main office to Singapore in 2019.
In January, he gave £6 million to support a Malmesbury Primary School and revealed intentions to put £100 million into a new research and development center in downtown Bristol.
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