City-based company to axe 15% of workforce

A MAJOR Dundee employer has announced plans to axe 15% of its workforce.

Insights, which operates from two buildings at Dundee Technology Park, said the job cuts were a direct result of a downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Founded by father and son Andi and Andy Lothian in Dundee in 1993, Insights is a personal development company that has been a global success story.

More than six million people have used its services, with customers including Microsoft, the NHS, Nike and Google.

Insights employs more than 500 staff around the world with slightly less than half that number based in Dundee, where the company’s headquarters remain.

Chief executive Fiona Logan said the action was necessary to safeguard the business in the long term.

She said: “In order to protect and sustain our business, continue to deliver our purpose and respond decisively to the uncertain economic outlook, we are in the regrettable, but unavoidable, position of having to make some roles redundant from the organisation.

“This announcement is not a course of action the executive board has taken lightly but believes it is necessary to safeguard the business for the long term.

“Taking care of our community is central to Insights’ core purpose and we intend to go above and beyond to support colleagues as we work through these changes.”

Insights said the company’s shareholders – who continue to be the Lothian family – were fully committed to “the organisation, Dundee and Scotland” and that the firm’s headquarters will remain in the city.

Group chief executive Andy Lothian said: “I am confident, despite these difficulties, that we will emerge a strong business as we continue to invest in our people, digital platforms and core products and ensure we continue to grow and thrive as a significant player in the Dundee and Scottish economies.”

Insights’ most recent accounts showed the group recorded sales of £68.9 million in 2019, with pre-tax profits of £14.2m. Insights helps people to learn more about themselves by creating individual personality profiles.

The firm’s system classes people’s personalities into four colours – cool blue, fiery red, earth green and sunshine yellow – which have associated strengths and weaknesses.