Dyson has shelved plans for a £100 million technology and research center in Bristol, opting instead to consolidate its south-west operations at its flagship Malmesbury campus in Wiltshire.
The move will see 180 staff relocated – previously based at 1 Georges Square in Bristol – to the company’s main site, which also houses the Dyson Institute and its engineering degree programme.
The British technology company, best known for vacuum cleaners and hairdryers, had originally announced a Bristol hub in 2023. However, Bill Wright, Dyson’s UK HR director, said bringing the teams under one roof would support the company’s collaborative approach to research and innovation. “As the pace of innovation and development accelerates, we are increasingly seeing the benefits that can be gained from having teams located together in one place,” explained Wright.
Despite already investing heavily in redeveloping the Bristol site, Dyson has confirmed that 1 Georges Square will now be put on the market for rent. The company says it will help workers commute by introducing a coach service and offering free charging points for electric cars to soften the impact of the move.
The latest development follows Dyson’s global review, which last year began with the announcement to cut a third of its UK workforce. The decision also comes against the backdrop of founder Sir James Dyson’s criticism of the UK’s economic policies – particularly the recent Labor tax proposals and the high cost of national insurance. In a letter to the Telegraph, he wrote: “Why would anyone set up a company in the UK? The song that Labor brings to business, and the destruction of British family-owned businesses in particular, is a terrible act of self-harm. “
While the company insists the closure of the Bristol site is a business decision and not a political statement, it emphasizes the continued integration strategy in Dyson’s global operations. Now headquartered in Singapore, Dyson seems to be aiming to focus its innovation efforts back where it started: at the historic Malmesbury campus in the Wiltshire countryside.
