Mayor urges Dyson to provide 'cast-iron guarantee' over £100m research centre in Bristol

The West of England's metro mayor is urging Dyson to provide a “cast-iron guarantee” over a planned £100m research centre in Bristol after the tech giant confirmed it was axing 1,000 UK jobs.

Dan Norris, who took Jacob Rees-Mogg's seat as MP for North East Somerset and Hanham in the general election, has written to the household appliances firm to establish whether the proposed centre will be impacted by the announcement.

Last year, Dyson said it would open a new tech hub in a redeveloped building near Bristol Bridge, overlooking Castle Park in the city. The Bristol centre was expected to employ hundreds of extra AI and software engineers as well as the global tech firm’s commercial and e-commerce teams for Great Britain and Ireland.

“I hope a solution can be found to keep as many jobs safe as possible in the West of England region, and I have asked for a cast-iron guarantee that the £100m research and development centre will go ahead as planned," said Mr Norris.

The metro mayor also asked how Dyson's restructure would affect staff in Bristol. The company, established by tech tycoon Sir James Dyson in 1991, has a large base in Wiltshire as well as sites in London and Bristol, where it employs around 100 staff.

Mr Norris said: “Clearly this is a very disappointing and worrying situation for everyone concerned, not least the brilliant 100 tech workers who find themselves at risk of losing their jobs in spite of the fundamental strengths of the Bristol office.

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“Locally, there are obviously limits to what the Mayoral Combined Authority can do but I have offered its full assistance, and have made it clear that we stand ready and will do all we can to support the company and workers to protect as many jobs as possible.”

Dyson chief executive Hanno Kirner, who was only appointed in February, said on Tuesday that all those affected by the cuts would be supported. Dyson has not officially confirmed which areas of the business will be impacted by the move, reports The Mirror.