Dyson Cancels £100 Million Bristol Research Hub, Consolidates Operations at Malmesbury Campus

Dyson has announced the cancellation of its £100 million technical and research centre in Bristol, opting instead to consolidate its southwest operations at its flagship campus in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. This move will result in the relocation of 180 staff, originally slated for the new Bristol hub at 1 Georges Square, to the company’s main site, which also houses the Dyson Institute and its engineering degree programme.

The British technology company, renowned for its vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, and other household innovations, had revealed plans for the Bristol hub in 2023. However, Bill Wright, Dyson’s UK HR director, explained that consolidating teams in one location would foster greater collaboration in research and innovation. “As the pace of innovation accelerates, we increasingly see the benefits of having teams all located together in one physical location,” Wright said.

Dyson had already invested significantly in refurbishing the Bristol site but confirmed that 1 Georges Square will now be put up for lease. To assist staff with the relocation, Dyson will introduce a coach service and provide free electric car charging points to ease the impact of the move.

This decision follows a global review by the company, which last year prompted the announcement of potential cuts to up to a third of its UK workforce. The move also comes amid founder Sir James Dyson’s outspoken criticism of the UK’s economic policies, particularly Labour’s proposed tax hikes and national insurance increases. In a letter to The Telegraph, Dyson called out the Labour party, saying, “Why would anyone start a company in the UK? The hit delivered by Labour to business, and the destruction of British family-owned businesses especially, is an egregious act of self-harm.”

While Dyson insists that the closure of the Bristol site is a business-driven decision and not a political statement, the move highlights the company’s ongoing strategy of consolidating its operations. Dyson, which is now headquartered in Singapore, appears committed to focusing its innovation efforts at the historic Malmesbury campus, where the company was originally founded.

The decision to centralize operations at Malmesbury reflects Dyson’s broader strategy to streamline its research and development efforts, as the company continues to navigate challenges in the global market.