10/11/2004

Cable & Wireless to cut 600 jobs

Telecommunications company Cable & Wireless has announced that 600 jobs are to go across Europe and that its HQ in London will be relocated to Bracknell.

Facing tough and "challenging" trading pressures, the company is to further restructure the UK and Europe operation with job losses.

Announcing he was taking "direct control" in the UK and announcing the jobs cuts in a statement today, Cable & Wireless Chief Executive Francesco Caio said: “In total these reorganisations are expected to reduce headcount by around 600 across the UK and Continental Europe, subject to local consultation."

The group's interim half-year report revealed that although operating profit had increased by £14 million (8%) to reach £199 million, revenues in the comparable period last year had fallen by £11 billion (2%) from 1.73 billion to 1.62 billion.

Mr Caio said: “We have achieved a great deal in fixing the legacy issues we inherited, controlling cash and reshaping the group as a more flexible, customer responsive entity that is equipped and ready to compete in the new telecoms landscape. We have stabilised business performance and conserved cash, while making targeted investments to deliver what our customers want."

He added: “In the UK although business revenue was held back by weak performance and pricing pressure, enterprise revenue was stable over the second half of 2003/4."

The telecoms group has shed almost a quarter of the company's employees as part of a major restructuring plan commenced 18 months ago aimed at substantially trimming operating costs.

As employee consultations are ongoing, the company have not released precise details of the latest job cuts.

(SP/MB)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 June 2002
Bondholders may have NTL chief replaced
Barclay Knapp's reign at NTL could soon be over as bondholders are reported to have called in a top corporate headhunter to garner a replacement CEO at the troubled cable company. According to a report in The Sunday Telegraph, Miles Broadbent has been talking to a former executive at NTL's main rival Telewest to succeed Mr Knapp.
26 October 2001
Thomas Cook to axe 2,600 jobs in Europe
Travel giant Thomas Cook is set to axe around 2,600 jobs across Europe. However, it is as yet unknown if the cuts will involve any of its operations in Northern Ireland, the UK or Ireland. The company revealed it was grounding some charter flights and closing 100 travel agencies, after reporting a 12 per cent fall in bookings.
25 March 2005
Belfast software firm investment to create 25 jobs
A Belfast-based software development company is to invest £1.5 million over the next two years to develop software services for its US based parent company.
23 September 2002
Holywood Road SPAR recognised as 'best company owned site'
The SPAR & Jet Filling Station on the Holywood Road has picked up the top accolade of 'Best Company Owned/Managed Site in Northern Ireland' at the Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards 2002.
10 December 2001
Cable television company to halve workforce by 2002
Debt-ridden cable television company NTL have announced 4,000 jobs redundancies in its UK operation. This figure includes the bringing forward of 2,000 jobs which were planned for 2002. NTL have stepped up cost cutting measures as it seeks to restructure and streamline its UK operation.