One third of vacuum company’s UK workforce to go

About 1,000 UK jobs are at risk at Dyson as part of a global restructure.

The firm, best known for the invention of the bag-less vacuum cleaner, said the decision was made amid fierce competition in global markets.

The move would ensure Dyson is “prepared for the future”, CEO Hanno Kirner said, adding it will be supporting those at risk of redundancy.

Dyson has 3,500 UK employees and offices in Wiltshire, Bristol and London.

Mr Kirner said the company operates in “increasingly fierce and competitive global markets” and it needs to be “entrepreneurial and agile”.

“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,” Mr Kirner added.

Roz Savage, the new Liberal Democrat MP for the South Cotswolds, said she was worried by the announcement.

She said: “It’s huge. Malmesbury is a close-knit community and I’m sure if people are in danger of losing their jobs then their pain is going to be felt by the whole community, by the local businesses and the local economy is going to be affected.

“This is potentially very big news and I’m very concerned.”

Wiltshire Council leader Richard Clewer said the council would do all it could to support those impacted during “an uncertain time”.

Mr Clewer, who is also the councillor responsible for economic development, said he was “extremely sorry to hear” of the announcement, adding that many Dyson workers were based in Wiltshire.

Prof Andrew Graves, a mechanical engineer and political scientist from the University of Bath, said those inside the industry were not surprised by the announcement and “had been warning about this for a long time”.

“Right across the world there is huge competition with the Dyson products and a lot of Dyson products really haven’t been successful of late,” he said.

“They put aside two billion to build an electric car in Hullavington and that was withdrawn fairly quickly when they realised it was too difficult.

“And also some of their latest products haven’t been too great in the market place, they are really fighting on all fronts at the moment.

“This is a huge amount of cost-cutting,” he added.

Prof Graves added if there were large scale redundancies it would be “devastating” for the town of Malmesbury.