As public spending cuts grip the UK, design and engineering giant Arup has now confirmed rumours that its UK staff of 3,888 is to be slashed by up to 600. Reassuring current employees that every effort would be made to redeploy them within the firm, Arup explained: “Like many other businesses, we have been affected by the weak market, as well as expected and current cuts in government expenditure.”

A spokesman for the company continued: “Our people are our greatest asset and it is with regret that the very difficult decision has been taken to implement a programme of redundancies, with a 90 day consultation beginning on 6 September.”