Bentley to cut nearly a quarter of its workforce

Bentley has offered voluntary release packages to it 4200 staff at its Crewe plant. Photo: Bentley

Luxury car maker Bentley is looking to slash almost a quarter of its UK workforce under Beyond100, the name representing Bentley’s second century plans.

The objective had been in store, prior to Covid-19, but was delayed during the pandemic, with 4200 contracted employees from its Crewe plant have been offered a voluntary release package. It is looking to made 1000 employees redundant.

Bentley has been in good shape since CEO Adrian Hallmark joined in February 2018 from Jaguar Land Rover, with a record first quarter profit of £48 million in first quarter 2020 (the highest in the company’s history). 

However, like all car companies, 2020 and 2021 will be tough. Bentley production was shut down for seven weeks and has only still resumed to 50 per cent. 

Amongst the other objectives of Beyond100 is a focused on electrification and also a greater focus on environmentally-sound businesses.