A new Lotus Cars taskforce is being created to support the 550 employees affected by confirmed redundancies at the company’s Hethel headquarters. Norfolk County Council and South Norfolk Council announced the initiative in response to what they described as a major blow for the local economy, with the aim of ensuring that the skills of the workforce are not lost to the county.
The taskforce will be chaired by Councillor Fabian Eagle, Norfolk’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, alongside South Norfolk Council Leader Daniel Elmer. Both leaders emphasised that their priority is to support those losing their jobs and to keep valuable engineering and manufacturing expertise within Norfolk. Cllr Eagle said: “These job losses are a huge blow, but rest assured we will do absolutely everything we can to ensure as many people as possible are supported into new employment and their skills are not lost to Norfolk’s economy.” Cllr Elmer added: “This is a very difficult time, and our priority must be the people who are losing their jobs. Working together, we will do everything we can to provide the support they need.”
The Lotus Cars taskforce will bring together organisations such as NAAME, the New Anglia Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering group, and the New Anglia Growth Hub, alongside the Department for Work and Pensions. Support will include tailored job search and CV workshops, benefits advice, and direct connections to vacancies across Norfolk’s engineering sector. Apprentices affected by the cuts will receive dedicated help from Apprenticeships Norfolk, while staff interested in entrepreneurship will be guided through start-up programmes delivered by Norfolk Libraries, MENTA and Hethel Innovation. There will also be opportunities for small businesses to take up space at Hethel Innovation Centre and Scottow Enterprise Park, while hardship support will be made available through South Norfolk Council’s Help Hub.
The announcement of the taskforce follows confirmation from Lotus Cars that it will cut 42% of its 1,300-strong UK workforce as part of a restructuring plan. The sportscar maker, owned by Chinese automotive group Geely, said the move was necessary to “secure a sustainable future” in a challenging market environment shaped by falling sales, cash shortages and uncertainty from global trade disputes. The factory at Hethel has not built any cars since May, having paused production to manage inventories and deal with tariffs imposed on British-made vehicles by the United States. Production is due to resume in early September after a new trade agreement reduced tariffs from 27.5% to 10% for up to 100,000 cars a year.
Lotus stressed that despite the job cuts, it remains committed to the UK and to Norfolk, where it will continue to manufacture cars and base its sportscar, motorsports and engineering consulting operations. It is also exploring ways to diversify its business, including opportunities for third-party manufacturing. The company described the restructuring as “vital” for competitiveness and said it would also involve greater resource-sharing across the wider Geely group.
The cuts are a significant moment for a brand with deep roots in British automotive history. Founded in 1948 by engineer Colin Chapman, Lotus became synonymous with lightweight, high-performance sportscars that earned global recognition on and off the track. Geely acquired a majority stake in 2017, joining a portfolio of investments that includes Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and the London Electric Vehicle Company.
The establishment of the Lotus Cars taskforce by these institutions and council members reflects an attempt to soften the impact of the restructuring on Norfolk’s economy while giving affected employees practical pathways into new work. By combining local councils, business networks and training providers, the initiative seeks to retain specialist skills in the county, support new ventures and help individuals and families through a difficult period of transition.
