Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Defence giant Babcock International to cut 1,000 jobs in the UK and overseas

Around 1,000 jobs are being axed at Babcock International as the defence giant revealed
mammoth writedowns of £1.7 billion and plans to sell off a raft of its businesses

By Emma Munbodh
Deputy Money Editor
 13 APR 2021
(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Defence giant Babcock International has said it expects to cut 1,000 jobs in the UK and overseas in an overhaul of the business as it revealed write-downs of around £1.7 billion.

The group - which is the Ministry of Defence's second largest contractor - said about 850 of the job cuts would be made across its UK operations, with the remainder overseas.

It came as Babcock said a turnaround plan would see it simplify the business and raise at least £400 million from the sale of assets over the next year.

In an update on the group-wide review launched in January, Babcock laid bare its balance sheet woes as it booked £1.7 billion in impairments and charges.

It added that group profits are also likely to be around £30 million lower each year, though it said this is smaller than first feared.

Chief executive David Lockwood, who took the helm last year, said he hopes that for workers affected by the review, the group will be able to find a "place where people can flourish" through the sale of assets to new owners.

He added: "People will see this as a watershed moment when the new company starts to emerge."

Babcock employs around 30,000 staff worldwide.

The firm, founded in 1891, supplies the Royal Navy and is a key plank of Britain’s defence capabilities.

It has been battling to rebuild its image for several years over rows over its handling of government funding.


Last year, former adviser Dominic Cummings last year accused the company of “ripping off taxpayers” over its Government contracts.

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