Dyson to cut 1,000 British jobs as it announces global workforce review

Dyson has announced plans to axe 1,000 jobs in the UK as part of global restructuring efforts.

Cuts at the vacuum and air appliances manufacturer, founded by British billionaire Sir James Dyson, equate to almost a third of its 3,500-strong British workforce. 

The company has offices in Wiltshire, London and Bristol, but moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2019. 

Staff were told in an email on Tuesday morning. 

Chief executive, Hanno Kirner, said the 'painful' 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.'

It is understood that the review was launched before the General Election was called by outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in May, and does not relate to policies laid out by Sir Keir Starmer's new government.

The company's founder, prominent Brexit supporter Sir James Dyson, has been outspoken about the Conservative government's policies. 

He previously hit out at the Tories for taking a 'short-sighted' and 'stupid' economic approach, with too much red tape and high taxes. 

In January 2023, the tycoon said Britain was stuck in a state of 'Covid inertia' that was holding the economy back.

Sir James, who has an estimated net worth of £23billion, accused the Tory government of 'interfering' and 'penalising the private sector'.

He also complained that the failure to get workers back to the office after the pandemic has 'badly damaged the country's self-belief and work ethic'. 

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Sir James said: 'The Government seems intent on moving in the opposite direction with the introduction of suffocating regulation, greater interference with business, and thinking it can impose tax upon tax on companies in the belief that penalising the private sector is a free win at the ballot box.'

He warned: 'This is as short-sighted as it is stupid. In the global economy, companies will simply choose to transfer jobs and invest elsewhere.

'Our country has an illustrious history of enterprise and innovation, born of a culture which we are in the process of extinguishing.'

Sir James received criticism in 2019, when he announced the firm's global headquarters were moving to Singapore from the UK.