Dyson layoffs: Wiltshire Council leader ‘still waiting’ for details

A council leader said he had yet to receive an update on the Dyson redundancies, describing his current situation as involving “guesswork”.

The UK-based company is the main employer in Malmesbury and announced on Tuesday that it plans to cut up to a third of its UK workforce.

Wiltshire Council leader Richard Clewer said he was still waiting to hear more about the 1,000 potential redundancies, adding “we still don’t know the number of people or where they are”.

Dyson UK has been contacted for comment.

Mr Clewer said: “We don’t know how many are Wiltshire residents.

“It could be that most of them live in Bristol, I just don’t know, and that doesn’t help.”

While the details of the layoffs are unclear, Mr. Clewer noted that online chatter indicated it could affect software engineers.

“It is absurd that as leader of the council I am dealing with online rumors rather than something definite of this magnitude,” he added.

The firm, known for inventing the bagless vacuum cleaner, said it was responding to “increasingly fierce and competitive global markets” and ensuring it was “future-ready”.

Dyson CEO Hanno Kirner said on Tuesday that the company would support those at risk of layoffs.

Mr Kirner said: “We have grown rapidly and like all companies we review our global structures from time to time to ensure we are ready for the future.

“As such, we are proposing changes to our organization that may result in redundancies.”

He added: “Decisions affecting 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 throughout the process.”

The announcement comes after founder Sir James Dyson was criticized for moving his company’s global headquarters from the UK to Singapore in 2019 after touting the economic benefits of Brexit.

According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2024, he is the fifth richest person in the United Kingdom, with an estimated net worth of £20.8 billion.

Earlier this year, the Government approved a £6m donation from Sir James to enable a primary school in Malmesbury to build a new science, technology, engineering, art and maths centre.