July 10, 2024 – Dyson, the iconic British technology giant, has unveiled plans to reduce its workforce in the United Kingdom by approximately 1,000 employees, constituting roughly a third of its domestic staff count, as part of a broader restructuring strategy, according to a report by the Financial Times.
In a confidential communication on Tuesday, Dyson notified its employees of the impending layoffs while reassuring that the company’s research and development (R&D) hub in the UK would remain intact. The source, who requested anonymity due to the ongoing negotiations with staff, revealed that the company boasted a total of 3,500 employees in the UK as of the end of last year, with a global headcount of 14,000.
Dyson’s CEO, Hanno Kirner, issued a statement acknowledging the company’s rapid growth trajectory and emphasized the importance of periodically reviewing its global structure to ensure readiness for the future. “As with any organization, we propose changes to our structure that may unfortunately result in job reductions,” Kirner said.
While emphasizing that the UK will “continue to be a significant center for our R&D efforts,” including the Dyson Institute, which hosts 160 undergraduate engineers, a Dyson employee who received the layoff notice shared with the BBC that despite the preservation of the R&D facility, “staff involved in research and development have now vacated the Dyson building.”
Founded in Malmesbury, England, in 1991 by billionaire inventor James Dyson, the company gained prominence with its bagless vacuum cleaners. Over the past two decades, Dyson has expanded its portfolio to include other household appliances such as air purifiers and hairdryers, solidifying its position as a leading player in the global market.
Currently, more than half of Dyson’s sales originate from the Asia-Pacific region, prompting the company to expand its manufacturing operations in countries like Singapore and the Philippines. Notably, Dyson relocated its headquarters from the UK to Singapore in 2019.
The latest round of job cuts underscores the challenges faced by even the most successful technology companies amidst shifting market dynamics and the ongoing economic landscape. Dyson’s decision to streamline its operations while maintaining its commitment to R&D highlights a strategic pivot aimed at securing its long-term competitiveness.
