FUJITSU staff face months of uncertainty after the technology giant announced 1,800 job cuts across the UK.

The Japanese firm currently employs 14,000 people in Britain – 169 of those in its Crewe site – but around 18 percent of the firm's UK workforce face the chop.

Fujitsu – which mainly operates IT systems for big public and private corporations – said the cuts were part of a ‘transformation programme’ aimed at ‘streamlining’ operations.

Workers will also be affected in a number of its other major UK sites including Warrington, London Bracknell, Belfast, Derry, Manchester, Stevenage and Wakefield.

A Fujitsu spokesman said consultations may last between 12 and 18 months and confirmed that 'no-one will be leaving the company until at least 2017.

He added the announcement was not linked to Brexit.

“Fujitsu is planning a transformation program that will enable it to better support customers in the era of digital transformation,” the spokesman said.

“The company today advised its employee representative forum of plans to restructure the organisation in order to provide better service and respond more quickly to customer needs.

“As part of the programme, Fujitsu plans to streamline operations in order to remain competitive in the market.

“Proposed measures include changes which would result in a reduction of up to 1,800 jobs in the UK.

“All affected employees will be offered guidance and support and Fujitsu is establishing a consultation process with elected employee representatives."

Unite, Britain’s biggest trade union, described the job cuts as a ‘hammer blow’ to Fujitsu employees.

Ian Tonks, Unite national officer for IT said: “This is a hammer blow for these hardworking employees who have given their all to make the UK subsidiary highly profitable.

“It is not good news for the UK economy as the company says that it intends to offshore many of these jobs, with increased automation also responsible for job losses.

“Fujtsu’s main UK subsidiary made £85.6 million profit last year and we see no reason for these job losses.

"Unite will be doing its utmost to fight for these jobs, as well as giving our members maximum support at this very worrying time.”

The announcement comes as Fujitsu staff in Manchester are voting in an industrial action ballot over pay, pensions and job security.