Major Portsmouth employer BAE Systems to axe 100s of maritime jobs

All the firm’s locations are being considered but the majority of the 3,898 people who work in the affected maritime sector are in Portsmouth.

At 10am today, staff at the Portsmouth base were called to a briefing where they told there would be a voluntary redundancy scheme.

Additional briefings were also held at other BAE maritime sites across the UK.

Proposed redundancy figures for the Portsmouth region have been released and approximately 340 jobs will be affected.

The company has said it is changing its organisation to ‘improve operational excellence and boost competitiveness, moving to a more streamline structure which focuses on the air, maritime and land sectors’.

BAE Systems employees 3,898 staff through its maritime sector. These staff are based in Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, Essex and Bristol and the firm said that all locations would be looked at when considering options, not just Portsmouth.

Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive, BAE Systems plc, said: ‘BAE Systems is a world leader in technology, advanced manufacturing and engineering and our diverse portfolio provides a strong platform for future growth. The organisational changes we are announcing today accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, de-layered organisation, with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology. These actions will further strengthen our company as we deliver our strategy in a changing environment.

eparately, we are also announcing actions at some of our UK sites to align our workforce capacity more closely with near-term demand and enhance our competitive position to secure new business. Those actions are necessary and the right thing to do for our company, but unfortunately include proposed redundancies at a number of operations. I recognise this will be difficult news for some of our employees and we are committed to do everything we can to support those affected.’

As some members of BAE staff do not have access to the internet, the announcements were made in face to face briefings and through notices going out to the company. A series of briefings will be conducted to leadership teams today.

In total, out of its UK workforce of 34,550, the company is looking to make 1,900 people redundant as part of its restructuring.