BP to cut 4,700 jobs in fresh wave of cost-cutting measures

16 January 2025, 11:44 | Updated: 16 January 2025, 11:50

BP sign outside a petrol station.
BP sign outside a petrol station. Picture: Alamy

By Henry Moore

BP has said it will cut 4,700 jobs across its global workforce and 3,000 contractor roles as part of a cost-saving drive.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The company did not disclose how many people were affected per country, but the reductions amount to just over 5% of its 90,000 worldwide employees.

BP has about 14,000 UK workers. Around 6,000 of those are based in petrol and service stations and will not be affected by the cuts.

Chief executive Murray Auchincloss announced the redundancies in an email to staff, seen by the PA news agency, on Thursday.

He wrote: "I understand and recognise the uncertainty this brings for everyone whose job may be at risk, and also the effect it can have on colleagues and teams."

Read more: Love Island and Hollyoaks star Paul Danan dies aged 46 as tributes pour in

A BP petrol station displaying high petrol prices in the United Kingdom,.
A BP petrol station displaying high petrol prices in the United Kingdom,. Picture: Alamy

"We have a range of support available, and please continue to show care for each other, be considerate, and keep putting safety first - especially during times of change."

BP said the cuts were part of a multi-year plan to make savings across the business, and that there may be more reductions this year and beyond.

Mr Auchincloss added that the job losses announced on Thursday "account for much of the anticipated reduction this year".

He said the company is "focusing resources on our highest-value opportunities" and that it has stopped or paused 30 projects since June 2024.

The reductions come as the London-based energy giant tries to bring more digital capabilities into the business, with artificial intelligence increasingly playing a role in engineering and marketing operations.

Mr Auchincloss's memo said that about 2,600 of the contractors involved in the job cuts have already left the business.

He continued that the company is still "uniquely positioned to grow value through the energy transition".

"But that doesn't give us an automatic right to win. We have to keep improving our competitiveness and moving at the pace of our customers and society."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A woman gets her nails done.

Thousands of migrants working illegally in nail bars, car washes and restaurants have been arrested in effort to tighten UK border security.

Exclusive
Keir Starmer 'leads by example' as he becomes first PM and G7 leader to have public HIV test

Keir Starmer 'leads by example' as he becomes first PM to have public HIV test as part of goal to eliminate virus

Three Israeli Hostages Released As Part Of Ceasefire Deal

Abuse suffered by Hamas hostages during their 500 days in captivity revealed

Kaleb Cooper

Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper announces he'll be a dad to baby number three

Elements of the eucharist sacramental bread and sacramental wine.

Non-alcoholic wine and gluten-free bread cannot be used during holy communion, the Church of England has ruled.

Nelson Way, Chadderton.

Baby girl found dead in Greater Manchester home, with man and woman arrested

Police Scotland vehicle.

Man arrested and charged after attempted murder of police officer

US President Donald Trump

Trump imposes steel and aluminium tariffs, as he doubles down on plan to make Canada 51st state of America

Robbie Williams on Instagram

Robbie Williams pays £20,000 for comedian's iconic glasses and pipe

Garda

Man arrested after several people reportedly stabbed in Dublin

Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Reeves calls for economic growth talks with bank chiefs, after 'Stagflation' warning

Reform UK Holds a Regional Conference In Wiltshire

Farage claims Conservative Party has less than 100,000 members and blasts Kemi Badenoch for calling Reform member numbers 'fake'

Foreign Ministers attend an Arab League extraordinary meeting in Cairo on October 11, 2023.

Egypt to host emergency Arab League summit after Trump announces plan to displace 1.8 million Palestinians and 'take over Gaza'

Jack Fincham.

Love Island star admits to feeling like a 'failure' after spending '£1 million on drugs, alcohol and gambling'

Westminster Abbey and Church House

Church of England meeting at time of ‘unprecedented crisis’ after scandals and historical abuse claims

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing

easyJet flight forced to make emergency landing after pilot collapses on board