Bytes sheds 12 in service game

Bytes Computers has laid off at least 12 members of staff as it seeks to realign itself as a services company.

Chairman Shaun Frohlich said the cuts were regrettable but necessary.

'I'm not suggesting that people don't feel sad or sentimental, but overall it's a positive and necessary move. Sadly, you can't always migrate people from one department to another.'

He said all staff departures were from logistics and back office departments, the most senior being from purchasing.

But a source claimed there had been some acrimony and that 14 had lost their jobs, including one senior marketing employee. 'The relaunch cost a lot and the sales team is very demoralised.'

Frohlich dismissed the comments as coming from 'one disgruntled ex-employee' and said the business model would complement a trend already developing within the business.

'We're now a technology services company which supplies products as part of the services.'

As part of the restructure, the company has been renamed Bytes Technology Group.