Rolls-Royce, the renowned engineering company, is set to undergo significant cost-saving measures, which may result in the loss of thousands of jobs. In a bid to streamline operations, the company has enlisted the services of global management consulting firm McKinsey.
Reports from The Sunday Times suggest that around 10% of the company’s non-manufacturing workforce, totaling approximately 30,000 employees, could be affected by these plans.
However, Rolls-Royce has clarified that no final decisions have been made regarding its workforce at this stage. The company’s headquarters in Derby will be at the center of these developments.
In earlier statements, Tufan Erginbilgic, the CEO of Rolls-Royce, emphasized the urgent need for the company to undergo a transformation in order to ensure its survival.
He likened the company to a “burning platform,” underscoring the necessity for change. Recently, Erginbilgic criticized the power systems division, one of the departments that are expected to be merged with other non-manufacturing departments.
He attributed the division’s struggles to mismanagement and emphasized the importance of implementing a clear strategy and effective management to unlock the company’s potential.
If job cuts are implemented, the impact is likely to be felt at the company’s Derby headquarters, as a significant portion of Rolls-Royce’s back-office administration functions are located there.
This development comes at a challenging time for Derby, as national reports have suggested that the planned Great British Railways Headquarters in the city may be abandoned.
While the government has downplayed these reports, the uncertainty surrounding the GBR formation adds to the concerns faced by Derby.
The proposed Great British Railways (GBR) is intended to take charge of a restructured railway system, replacing Network Rail and assuming responsibilities for infrastructure, ticketing, and timetabling.
Derby emerged victorious after a rigorous selection process, beating competition from five other prominent historic rail centers. A transition team has already commenced work to establish the GBR headquarters in the city.
Responding to the situation, a spokesperson for Rolls-Royce clarified to the Sunday Times that the company is actively engaged in a swift transformation process across various workstreams.
They emphasized that organizational efficiencies are just one aspect of this ongoing effort. The spokesperson emphasized that no definitive decisions have been made regarding potential employee impacts, dismissing any claims to the contrary as speculative in nature.
