Prospect and FDA raise concerns over job cuts at Department for Business and Trade

Prospect and FDA, have written to Gareth Davies, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), to raise concerns about the department’s proposed staffing reductions.

The letter highlights both the scale and pace of the planned cuts, warning that they risk undermining DBT’s ability to deliver its core mission.

We have noted that within the Business Group alone, a 38% reduction in staff is planned by March 2026, with the department-wide target set at a 20% cut in global headcount by April 2027. These levels are far higher than reductions seen in other government departments.

Key materials, including FAQs and consultation documents, have reportedly been shared with staff without union input, and requests for the rationale behind the restructuring have gone unanswered. We have expressed concern that this opacity could make the cuts appear arbitrary.

To address these issues, Prospect and FDA are calling for:

• A pause on restructuring in affected directorates until a clear engagement plan with unions is agreed.

• Full transparency on the business case, consultation materials, and stakeholder impact assessments.

• A phased, realistic timeline for implementation aligned with the Spending Review period, allowing for natural attrition and redeployment.

• A detailed workforce plan ensuring remaining staff are not overburdened, and that efficiency claims, including those related to AI, are supported by robust analysis.