The Dettol and Durex maker said its priority is to mitigate the impact of the changes, where possible
Inside Reckitt’s Science and Innovation Centre, which opened in December 2019(Image: HullLive)
Major Hull employer Reckitt has told staff there will be job cuts but has stressed it is still “deeply committed” to the city. The household and health products maker, which started in Hull in 1840, says there will be a reduction of roles in its research and development department, which operates out of mulitmillion-pound premises at Dansom Lane South.
The firm has not said how many jobs are likely to go. It follows a downbeat set of first quarter results for the London Stock Exchange-listed business which counts major brands such as Dettol, Durex and Lysol among its offer.
In a statement, Reckitt said: “We are making some changes to our global research and development organisation to better support the business and enable increased investment in our core growth areas. As a result, we have informed colleagues that there will be a reduction in a number of roles.
“Given Reckitt’s historic links to Hull, we remain deeply committed to the place where our company began and to the colleagues and community there. Our priority is to mitigate the impact of these changes wherever possible, and any colleagues affected will be treated with respect and supported throughout the process.”
Last month, Reckitt said EU changes to sanctions on Russia had hit part of its business. Bosses said there had been a double digit revenue decline in the firm’s Household Care arm as a result.
They also warned about the potential of £130m-£150m of costs attached to higher oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East. It said this would be a “manageable level” to offset through actions including supply chain flexibility and pricing.
Group sales volumes were down 2% in the first quarter of 2026, with lower cold and flu rates through the winter seasons impacting the results. For the remainder of the year, Reckitt said it expected to see strong performances from its markets in India and China.
Reckitt expanded its Dansom Lane South facility in recent years and opened its new state-of-the-art £105m Science and Innovation Centre just over five years ago. The move was the firm’s largest single site investment, creating 200 jobs at the time and providing a home for the group’s global technical centre for consumer health.
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