Tough trading costs jobs

Electrical retailer Dixons is to cut up to 350 head office jobs because of tough trading conditions. The move follows disappointing Christmas sales and a warning that annual profits would fall short of expectations. Most of the cuts will be at headquarters in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, although Dixons hopes some positions will be lost through normal staff turnover.

Profits soar: Newspaper distribution and aviation group John Menzies' airports operation has lifted into profit. The Edinburgh group said restructuring at its aviation division, which provides passenger, support and cargo services to airlines, had delivered a turnaround. The division, which cut 1,200 jobs in 2001 after September 11, yesterday posted profits of £3.7m for 2002 compared with losses of £2.6m a year earlier.

Pay cut: The chief executive of BP took a 32 per cent pay cut last year, as the company's share price slumped to four-year lows. Lord Browne of Madingley saw his remuneration cut from £5.7m in 2001 to £3.9m last year, reflecting the problems that have wracked Britain's biggest listed company and its share price.

Milk talk: The Milk Development Council Northern Region is holding a talk on how to market milk at The Golden Lion in Northallerton on Thursday, March 27 at 7.30pm. Contact the MDC on (01285) 646517 to book a place.

Personal touch: Yorkshire Building Society has acted on a consultation process with its members by implementing a personal touch. Calls to the organisation should now be answered by a person, rather than an automated machine.

No deal: Low-cost airline easyJet pulled out of plans to buy German operator Deutsche BA from British Airways. EasyJet blamed conditions in the German aviation market and a failure to agree employment terms with Deutsche BA staff for the decision. The Luton-based carrier secured an option with BA last May to acquire the airline, which operates 130 flights a day and employs 800 people.