BP to cut 4,700 jobs to reduce costs

Oil elephantine BP is to chopped astir 4,700 staff, much than 5% of its full workforce, arsenic portion of its plans to chopped costs.

The British firm, which has a planetary workforce of astir 90,000 people, confirmed the occupation losses connected Thursday, but has not said however galore roles volition beryllium affected successful each state it operates in.

An email to unit besides confirmed that astir 3,000 contractor positions volition besides beryllium axed this year.

BP employs astir 14,000 radical successful the UK, of which astir 6,000 are based successful petrol and work stations, and volition not beryllium affected by the cuts.

Chief enforcement Murray Auchincloss, who announced past twelvemonth his intentions to simplify the business, is understood to person acceptable a outgo simplification people of $2bn (£1.6bn) by the extremity of 2026, of which $500m is to beryllium saved this year.

In an email to unit helium said: "We person got much we request to bash done this year, adjacent twelvemonth and beyond, but we are making beardown advancement arsenic we presumption BP to turn arsenic a simpler, much focused, higher-value company."

The brag added that helium recognised "the uncertainty this brings for everyone whose occupation whitethorn beryllium astatine risk, and besides the effect it tin person connected colleagues and teams".

The occupation cuts travel arsenic the vigor elephantine tries to bring much integer capabilities into the business, with artificial quality playing a increasing relation successful engineering and selling operations.

Mr Auchincloss's email said that astir 2,600 of the contractors affected by the cuts had already near the business.