Fears Rolls-Royce will cut up to 4,500 jobs in the East Midlands as it grapples with the fallout of Covid crisis
Rolls-Royce could cut up to 4,500 jobs in the East Midlands as it grapples with the fallout of the crisis.
The engineering giant will axe 9,000 roles globally because of the pandemic, with about 1,500 already set to fall on its historic base in Derby.
But local leaders have predicted another 3,000 posts could be under threat.
Rolls-Royce could cut up to 4,500 jobs in the East Midlands as it grapples with the fallout of the virus crisis, it has been warned
Derby City Council has set up an economic taskforce to look at what support can be offered believing that ‘as much as half’ of the 9,000 jobs going globally could fall on the area, or 4,500 in total.
Paul Simpson, Derby council’s chief executive, said: ‘So far the number was lower than we expected. But I think it is really important that people don’t see that figure and think ‘that’s it’.
‘It is highly likely there are going to be further cuts next year.’
Rolls, which makes plane engines, said the reduction of nearly one fifth of its 52,000-strong workforce will mainly affect its civil aerospace arm, where 8,000 jobs will go of the 9,000 announced.
The latest turmoil follows 1,800 job cuts previously announced by Rolls as part of a separate round of spending cuts.
Derby council leader Chris Poulter has called for the Government to provide support to the area as the coronavirus hammers demand for new aircraft.
Rolls said: ‘There will be further job losses in 2021 but we do not have details of how this will impact individual sites or regions. We continue to work with Derby’s economic recovery taskforce.’