Cable and Wireless 'may halve UK staff'

Telecoms group Cable & Wireless dealt a fresh blow to staff today by warning it could halve its UK workforce in the next five years.

The group, which acquired Energis last year, said it envisaged its current headcount of 5,500 would fall to between 2,500 and 3,500 in the next four to five years. It added that 350 jobs would be lost in the current financial year.

Cable said the changes reflected plans to concentrate on fewer and larger corporate customers, while reducing the complexity in its products and systems.

The group employs around 2,000 staff in Bracknell, with other workers in Leeds, Manchester, Reading and London.