Telecoms giant BT has announced plans to sack 5,000 managers in the latest wave of its restructuring programme.

Reported by The Times newspaper, the restructuring has already witnessed the departure of 2,000 managers since May. The white-collar cull is a deliberate move away from management.

“We are seeing a move away from managers to hire engineers and more front line staff,” a spokesman told the newspaper.

The company said that the reorganisation would lead to charges of about £450 million, which it claims will generate a payback within two to three years.

News of the departures came as the company revealed the first increase in its consumer residential business for four years.

A spokesman for Connect, which represents managers and other staff at BT, said: “We welcome BT’s continued commitment to work with the union in dealing with the current restructuring of the company and to ensure that any reduction in jobs is dealt with via voluntary means.”