Bovis axes 50 staff – but saves 250 who were under threat

A spokesperson for the contractor said the firm was pleased it had managed to find roles for more than 80% of the staff it originally feared could be made redundant.

She said: “We’ve deployed a larger than anticipated number of people to other parts of the business, retaining about 80% of those at risk. Unfortunately, we have still lost about 50 people from across the business.”

The redundancy consultation followed a decrease in work from a number of the contractor’s core clients, including Land Securities and Stanhope. However, the firm has been able to press ahead with its contract to build the athletes’ village for the 2012 London Olympics. This has been funded by public money and so escaped the worst effects of the private sector downturn.

The contractor also recently completed a reorganisation of its UK senior management team. Murray Coleman, the man drafted in to rescue the business by Australian parent Lend Lease in 2006, has returned to Australia, and Nick Pollard has taken his role as chief executive of Bovis Lend Lease.