Andy Burnham is facing another major issue with 10 important companies revealing thousands of jobs are on the line.
andy burnham
Andy Burnham is facing a job loss nightmare.
(Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham is facing a fresh nightmare with several UK firms axing jobs across the board. The Prime Minister is battling a rising unemployment rate, with figures rising to 4.9% between May and July 2026), a 0.2 percentage points increase compared to last year.
In another blow, the number of job vacancies was also down, with 8,000 fewer postings compared to the previous quarter. A range of top firms have confirmed they are slashing roles in the past few months, from national broadcasters to posties and car makers. The Express takes a look at the big name companies that are cutting roles.
Royal Mail
Royal Mail has confirmed there are plans to cut thousands of jobs by the end of 2027, with falling demand for letter deliveries behind some of the move.
Around 2,500 head office jobs and supporting roles will be lost, a decision that will see 2% of the 131,000 workforce lose their roles.
Royal Mail bosses said the proposed changes will “remove duplication” and allow them to “invest further in the service” for customers.
Importantly, frontline postal workers are not understood to be part of the new restructuring process.
(Image: Getty)
Jaguar Land Rover
Just last month, Jaguar Land Rover confirmed they would be axing thousands of jobs in the UK in a major blow to the car industry.
The company plans to cut 4,000 jobs, with most coming from their head office. JLR said they hoped most of the cuts could be made through voluntary redundancy.
JLR chief executive, PB Balaji, said: “The automotive industry faces significant challenges, with technological change amidst intense competition and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.”
(Image: Getty)
BBC
The BBC is at it again with another series of job losses hitting staff. The cuts are part of a bid to save £500million, with up to 2,000 roles likely to be lost.
It is understood that BBC Local staff have now been told that the number of specialist correspondent roles will be reduced.
Laura Davison, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, previously blasted the decision to cut more roles.
She said: “The BBC’s ongoing campaign of cuts is devastating and demoralising for our members and severely undermines the broadcaster’s ability to serve audiences across the UK.”
(Image: Getty)
Greggs
Greggs may be the UK’s most loved bakery chain, but that hasn’t stopped the company from scrapping hundreds of roles.
The bakery company plans to shut four of its factories, with Manufacturing sites at North Lakes, Cumbria, Pettigrews, Seaham and Enfield to close their doors.
This will see 740 job cuts, with estimates that the scheme will save around £20million across the 2028 and 2029 financial years.
However, Greggs has said that retail shops would not be affected by the proposed changes.
Nightmare for Andy Burnham as 10 Big-Name Companies Cut Over 11,000 UK Jobs
Britain’s jobs market is facing renewed pressure as major employers across manufacturing, broadcasting, retail, financial services and postal deliveries announce restructuring plans that could put more than 11,000 roles at risk. The developments present a significant challenge for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whose government has promised to encourage economic growth, strengthen British industry and improve opportunities for workers.
The figures, reported on 14 October 2026, bring together job-cutting plans announced by ten well-known companies. They include Royal Mail, Jaguar Land Rover, the BBC, Greggs, Entain, Channel 4, HSBC, Xbox, Legal & General and Just Group. Some employers have announced specific redundancy programmes, while others are consulting staff or have not disclosed the full number of UK jobs affected. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search3”]}/>
The scale of the announcements has raised concerns about employment security at a time when businesses are dealing with changing consumer habits, technological disruption, higher operating costs and uncertainty over future investment.
However, the figures need to be understood carefully. They represent a mixture of planned reductions, proposed redundancies and restructuring programmes rather than 11,000 people all losing their jobs on the same day. Some cuts may be voluntary, and some plans remain subject to consultation.
Nevertheless, the developments underline the difficulties facing workers and the government as Britain attempts to strengthen its economy.
Royal Mail: 2,500 roles affected
Royal Mail is planning to cut approximately 2,500 head-office and support roles by the end of 2027. The company has pointed to falling demand for traditional letter deliveries as one of the reasons behind its restructuring.
The proposed reductions would affect around 2% of its workforce of approximately 131,000 people. Management says the changes are intended to remove duplicated functions and release resources for investment in the service.
Frontline postal workers are not understood to be included in this particular restructuring programme, according to the reporting available on 14 October. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search3”]}/>
The announcement illustrates a challenge facing a service that has been central to British life for generations. Letters continue to matter for official correspondence and some businesses, but digital communication has substantially changed how people exchange information.
Royal Mail must adapt to that changing market while maintaining delivery standards and managing the expectations of its workforce. For employees whose positions are affected, however, the prospect of redundancy creates immediate uncertainty about income and future employment.
Jaguar Land Rover: 4,000 jobs in the automotive industry
Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to cut around 4,000 UK jobs, with many of the affected roles expected to be in its head-office operations. The company has said it hopes to achieve most of the reductions through voluntary redundancy.
The carmaker has cited intense competition, technological change and geopolitical uncertainty as challenges facing the automotive sector. The industry is undergoing a major transition as manufacturers invest in electric vehicles, software, new production methods and more efficient operations. <Cite refs={[“turn871686news31″,”turn848209view0”]}/>
For Britain, the implications extend beyond individual employees. Automotive manufacturing supports extensive supply chains, including component suppliers, logistics companies, engineering businesses and local service providers.
When a major manufacturer restructures, the effects can therefore spread beyond the people directly employed by the company. Communities that depend on automotive production may also be affected if spending falls or suppliers lose contracts.
The government has an interest in ensuring that Britain remains attractive to manufacturers, but it cannot simply prevent companies from changing their operations. Its challenge is to support investment, develop workers’ skills and create conditions in which businesses can compete internationally.
BBC: up to 2,000 roles at risk
The BBC is planning significant savings, with up to 2,000 roles potentially affected as part of a programme intended to save £500 million.
The broadcaster has faced pressure to control spending while adapting to changes in how audiences consume news and entertainment. Television viewing habits are changing, younger audiences increasingly use digital platforms, and broadcasters must compete with streaming services and online content providers.
The proposed reductions have prompted criticism from representatives of journalists and other staff. Laura Davison, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, has warned that repeated cuts could weaken the broadcaster’s ability to serve audiences across the country. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search3”]}/>
The debate goes beyond the number of positions removed. The BBC has responsibilities to audiences across the UK, including communities that may receive limited coverage from other news organisations.
Reducing costs while maintaining local reporting, specialist journalism and programme quality will therefore be a central challenge for the organisation.
Greggs: 740 roles affected by factory closures
Greggs, one of Britain’s best-known bakery chains, has announced plans to close four manufacturing sites, affecting approximately 740 jobs.
The factories identified in the reporting are North Lakes in Cumbria, Pettigrews in Seaham and sites in Enfield and the surrounding manufacturing network. The company expects the changes to generate savings of around £20 million across the 2028 and 2029 financial years. Greggs has said its retail shops would not be affected by the proposed changes. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search1”]}/>
The announcement highlights the pressures facing food manufacturers. Businesses must balance production costs, distribution networks, demand patterns and the need to operate factories efficiently.
For the affected employees, the impact will be personal and immediate. Manufacturing jobs often provide stable employment in local communities, and finding comparable work may be difficult where alternative industrial employers are limited.
The wider question is how businesses can improve efficiency without leaving workers and communities to absorb all the costs of restructuring.
Entain: 400 jobs in customer care
Entain, the gambling group that owns brands including Ladbrokes and Coral, is preparing to cut around 400 jobs in its customer-care operations.
The proposed reductions could affect roughly one-fifth of a customer-care workforce reported to number approximately 2,000. The company has said the restructuring is intended to ensure that the business remains competitive. Chief executive Stella David has also said the company’s immediate priority is to support colleagues who may be affected. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search3”]}/>
The announcement raises questions about the future of customer-service employment as businesses increasingly review how they deliver support and manage costs.
For workers, the key issues will include whether alternative roles are available, whether redundancies are voluntary and what assistance the company provides during the transition.
Channel 4: 340 jobs planned for removal
Channel 4 has announced plans to cut around 340 jobs before the end of 2026, a reduction equivalent to approximately 28% of its workforce of 1,270.
Chief executive Priya Dogra has said the changes are intended to reshape the organisation and focus investment on the programmes audiences value. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search3”]}/>
The broadcaster operates in a media environment where advertising income, viewing habits and competition from digital platforms can change quickly.
Its restructuring will therefore be closely watched by staff and the wider creative sector. The concern is whether a smaller organisation can maintain its output and commissioning ambitions while achieving the savings management considers necessary.
HSBC: financial-adviser roles under review
HSBC is planning reductions in its UK wealth-management business. Reports have indicated that a substantial proportion of management and specialist positions could be affected, alongside a possible reduction of around 70% in financial-adviser roles within the relevant operation.
The precise number of UK jobs affected has not been established in the reported figures, so it should not be treated as a confirmed total equivalent to the more clearly quantified announcements. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search4”]}/>
Banks have been reviewing how they organise wealth management and advisory services as customer expectations change and firms look for more efficient ways to operate.
For employees, uncertainty over restructuring can be particularly difficult when specialist roles require experience and qualifications that may not transfer easily to other positions.
Xbox: uncertainty for game developers
Microsoft’s Xbox business has also been undergoing restructuring. The reporting identified a proposed closure involving the Cambridgeshire-based developer Ninja Theory, known for the game Hellblade.
The precise number of UK employees affected was not available in the October 14 report. It would therefore be misleading to assign an invented figure to this part of the overall job-cut total. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search3”]}/>
The games industry has experienced significant changes as publishers review budgets, development schedules and the commercial performance of large projects.
Studios can require years to produce major titles, making employment vulnerable when companies change their investment priorities. The impact can extend beyond developers to contractors, artists, designers and other creative professionals.
Legal & General: 1,000 jobs planned
Insurance and pensions provider Legal & General plans to cut approximately 1,000 jobs by the middle of 2027.
The company has indicated that voluntary redundancy will be considered initially, although compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out. Management says the restructuring will focus resources and investment on areas where it sees stronger long-term growth opportunities. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search1”]}/>
The announcement adds to the uncertainty facing financial-services workers, even as the sector continues to play a major role in the UK economy.
Companies in insurance and pensions must balance the need to control costs with customer service, regulatory responsibilities and the management of long-term financial commitments.
Just Group: more than 300 jobs expected to go
Retirement-services company Just Group has begun consultation with around 500 employees, with more than 300 jobs expected to be cut.
The latest programme follows a separate reduction of approximately 150 jobs in May 2026. The proposed changes could therefore represent a substantial reduction for the business, although the final number will depend on the outcome of the consultation process. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search3”]}/>
The company’s restructuring demonstrates that job insecurity is not confined to traditional manufacturing or retail. Financial-services employers are also reassessing their workforce requirements and operating models.
What about unemployment and the government?
The ten-company tally comes amid wider concerns about Britain’s employment outlook. The report published on 14 October cited an unemployment rate of 4.9% for May to July 2026 and a fall of 8,000 in job vacancies compared with the previous quarter. These figures describe a wider labour-market trend, not the direct effect of the ten companies’ announcements. <Cite refs={[“turn848209view0″,”turn871686search3”]}/>
For Burnham’s government, the challenge is to respond to that pressure while encouraging investment and supporting people whose jobs are threatened.
The causes of the reductions differ. Royal Mail faces declining letter volumes; car manufacturers are adapting to technological and competitive pressures; broadcasters are seeking savings; and financial firms are restructuring their operations. It would be inaccurate to attribute all these decisions to one government policy or to suggest that every company is responding to the same economic problem.
Nevertheless, ministers can influence the wider environment through skills policy, infrastructure, employment support, industrial strategy and the design of business taxes.
They must also consider how workers can move into new roles. Retraining, careers advice and effective redundancy support can help people find work elsewhere, although such measures cannot guarantee that suitable jobs will be available in every affected community.
A difficult period for British workers
The announcements from these ten companies show how employment uncertainty is spreading across different parts of the economy. More than 11,000 roles are potentially affected by the programmes included in the reported tally, but the precise number of completed redundancies is lower or remains unknown because many of the plans are still under way.
For workers, the distinction between a proposed cut and a completed redundancy offers little comfort when the future of a job is uncertain. For the government, the figures underline the need to track employment trends carefully and ensure that economic-growth promises translate into opportunities for people across Britain.
Burnham’s response will be judged by the broader performance of the labour market, the support available to displaced workers and whether the country can attract new investment while adapting to technological and industrial change.
The immediate priority is to establish which positions will actually disappear, how many employees can be redeployed and what help will be available to those who lose their jobs. The longer-term challenge is to create an economy in which businesses can adapt without leaving workers and communities behind.