Motorola is considering closing its UK handset design center and is looking to reduce its UK design workforce by around half. The design centre, situated in Birmingham employs some 120 staff and was acquired by Motorola when it brought the assets of bankrupt smartphone company, Sendo in 2005.
Commenting on the problems at Birmingham, Motorola said in a statement: "Since the beginning of 2007 Motorola has been public about its commitment to returning the company's Mobile Devices business to its market-leading position by improving profitability, driving product portfolio enhancements and rationalizing costs.
"As a result it is proposed that the Birmingham site will need to reduce headcount by approximately 50 per cent which may potentially require the closure of the site.
"Therefore, all employees will initially be placed at 'risk of redundancy' whilst alternative opportunities including redeployment, relocation, flexible working/home working or the opportunity of a 'service site' arrangement are investigated as part of the consultation process."
The company employs several thousand staff in the UK - but has already cut 150 jobs this year - mainly at its TTPCom subsidiary.
Posted to the site on 23rd March 2008
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