{"id":128310,"date":"2026-11-06T10:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T10:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/?p=128310"},"modified":"2026-11-06T10:12:56","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T10:12:56","slug":"bt-cuts-nearly-8000-jobs-major-overhaul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/bt-cuts-nearly-8000-jobs-major-overhaul\/","title":{"rendered":"BT Cuts Nearly 8,000 Jobs As Its Boss Pushes Ahead With a Major Overhaul"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BT has cut almost 8,000 jobs in six months as part of a restructuring programme aimed at reducing costs across its operations. The telecommunications group reported a 12% increase in pre-tax profits to \u00a31.1bn for the six months ending 30 September, while its shares briefly reached their highest level in five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reductions have largely affected Openreach<\/strong>, BT\u2019s network infrastructure division, where staffing requirements have declined as the expansion of its fibre broadband network slows. The changes form part of a wider strategy led by chief executive Allison Kirkby<\/strong>, who has increased the company\u2019s cost-saving ambitions while overseeing significant changes to its business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workforce Reductions Deepen As BT Restructures Its Operations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to The Guardian<\/a>, BT reduced its workforce by 7,731 people between the end of March and September, leaving approximately 90,000 employees when its international business is excluded. The company employed around 130,000 people, including contractors, two years earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figures reported by London Loves Business<\/a> show that employee numbers have fallen by 11,712 over the past year, representing an 11% reduction. Most of the latest departures have occurred within Openreach, where the company is reducing resources following the peak of its nationwide fibre construction programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kirkby, who became chief executive in February 2024, has overseen the restructuring as BT seeks to simplify its operations and reduce expenditure. Earlier this year, the company increased its savings target<\/strong> from \u00a33bn by 2029 to \u00a33.7bn by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The planned separation of BT\u2019s international operations into a joint venture with US telecommunications company Verizon <\/strong>has since led to an adjustment in its annual savings target to approximately \u00a33.5bn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BT expects its overall workforce, including the international operation scheduled for separation, to reach approximately 75,000 by 2030. Excluding that business, its projected headcount stands between 65,000 and 70,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company previously indicated that artificial intelligence could eventually eliminate the equivalent of approximately 10,000 roles across its operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
BT cuts nearly 8,000 jobs as major restructuring reshapes its workforce \u00a9BT<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rising Profits Coincide With BT\u2019s \u00a3400M TalkTalk Acquisition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BT\u2019s latest financial results indicate that its restructuring is contributing to improved profitability. Pre-tax profits increased by 12% to \u00a31.1bn during the six months ending in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company\u2019s shares rose by as much as 6% during early trading on Thursday, reaching a five-year high <\/strong>and placing BT among the FTSE 100\u2019s strongest performers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to London Loves Business, Kirkby said the company had achieved \u00a3312m<\/strong> in annualised savings during the first half of its financial year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur UK-centric strategy and transformation is clearly delivering with \u00a3312 million of annualised savings achieved in the first half, as we continue to simplify and modernise<\/em>,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside its workforce reductions, BT has agreed a \u00a3400m acquisition of struggling broadband provider TalkTalk. The transaction involves a business employing approximately 900 people in Salford, Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deal also secures telecommunications services for 2.5 million households and public sector customers, including hospitals and schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The acquisition remains subject to regulatory scrutiny. Kirkby said BT could not provide further details about its plans for TalkTalk while the review continues. Virgin Media<\/a> O2, which had also considered acquiring TalkTalk, criticised the transaction, describing it as a \u201cstitch-up\u201d that would strengthen BT\u2019s existing market position.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BT is undergoing one of its biggest workforce shake-ups in years, with thousands of jobs disappearing in just six months. As profits rise and shares reach new heights, the scale of the company’s restructuring is becoming clearer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":128313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-128310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=128310"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":128314,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128310\/revisions\/128314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/128313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=128310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=128310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=128310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}