STAFF at Hampshire offices of a global telecommunications giant face uncertainty just weeks before Christmas as up to 20 people could lose their jobs as part of a major shake-up, it has emerged.

Ericsson has announced that it will be making “changes” affecting staff at its complex in Strategic Park, Hedge End as part of a company-wide strategy to “drive growth and profitability”.

Bosses at the Swedish-based firm which specialises in telecommunications equipment and networking - refused to disclose the nature of the changes, the exact number of staff affected and whether they will go as far as axing roles completely as part of the operation.

But the revelation comes as the company faces difficult trading conditions in an increasingly competitive telecommunications market.

Last month the company warned its third-quarter profits will be “significantly lower” than expected following a sharp downturn in its mobile broadband business.

And its powerful shareholders have drafted in Börje Ekholm as its chief executive after ousting former head Hans Vestberg in July.

A former employee at the Hedge End office says some staff had been told their jobs may be at risk when they were called into a meeting at the offices in Comines Way off the M27 junction seven on Friday.

He says that the changes may affect people working in research and development engineering and project delivery.

He said: “I think a lot of people have been expecting news like this for a while since the downturn in Ericsson’s fortunes globally.

“It must be terrible for families in the run up to Christmas.

“They have a very skilled workforce there.”

Many staff leaving work on Friday seemed unaware of the changes – with many unable to comment.

But one man told the Echo: “I fear you may be correct but I don’t want to say anything more.”

A spokeswoman for Ericsson was unable to determine the number of staff who would be affected by the changes, but said: “We can confirm that we will be making some changes which may affect a very small number of staff based in our Southampton office.

“Earlier this year, Ericsson announced plans to accelerate transformation in order to drive growth and profitability across the business.

“We believe that these changes will enable us to be more competitive, deliver enhanced value to our clients, better respond to opportunities and grow our business more efficiently in the future.

"As a rule, we always inform our employees about any decisions or developments before we let anyone else know. What we can tell you is that we have an open and constructive dialogue with all of our staff.”

Ericsson’s share price is just over half what it was at the start of the year and is down 61 per cent from its April 2015 high.

But its competitor Nokia has witnessed improving trading after buying Alcatel-Lucent and focussing on telecoms equipment after shedding its mobile handset business.