 The firm has doubled its profits since the move to Malaysia |
Entrepreneur James Dyson and his wife Deirdre have been paid a �17m bonus, two years after moving their vacuum cleaner production to Asia. About 600 people lost their jobs when the firm moved manufacturing from Malmesbury to Malaysia. The Wiltshire head office still has 1,200 employees.
The bonus is three times higher than in previous years and follows a doubling in pre-tax profits since the move.
A spokesman said James Dyson played a "vital role" in the firm's success.
He said the company's profits were based on foundations laid by James Dyson in developing the group's original dual cyclone vacuum cleaner.
Lower costs
It took him 15 years and 5,127 prototypes to come up with the final product.
"This was a solo effort, with only a high street bank loan and supportive family a back-up," said the spokesman.
The firm shifted production of its vacuum cleaners to the Far East in 2002.
At the time, Mr Dyson said he had been forced to shift manufacturing offshore because of lower costs. He also cited the fact that both component suppliers and some of the cleaners' biggest markets were based in the region.
This was followed by the announcement in 2003 that production of Dyson's mashing machines would also be transferred to Asia.
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