Ten per cent of workforce to go at Scott Wilson

Multidisciplinary consultant to cut 600 staff globally – more than half based in the UK – and freeze pay for the remaining staff; shares nosedive on announcement

In an interim management statement for the period from 12 December 2008 to date, Scott Wilson confirms that a number of measures are being implemented across the group "to increase efficiency and preserve cash" in response to the global economic downturn. It says that employee numbers have already been reduced and further programmes are under way which will result in a 10% reduction in headcount overall.

• Scott Wilson news release