A Manchester CEO has defended sacking over half his staff for AI as 'it saves £100,000 a year and does a better job' 😳 Rob Illidge, 40, launched Vulse - an employee advocacy software platform for LinkedIn - back in 2019, well before the explosion in AI techno

UKEmployee-Led CommerceEmployee AdvocacyA Iin CommerceSocial Media MarketingFacebook · October 29, 2026 at 8:17 PM

Rob Illidge, the CEO of Vulse, a Manchester-based company, has defended his decision to sack over half of his staff and replace them with AI, citing that it saves the company £100,000 a year and does a better job. Vulse is an employee advocacy software platform for LinkedIn that was launched in 2019, before the explosion in AI technology.

This decision has significant implications for social commerce, as it highlights the growing trend of companies leveraging AI to streamline their operations and improve efficiency. The use of AI in employee advocacy platforms like Vulse can also enhance the overall user experience, making it more likely for users to engage with the platform and share content, ultimately driving sales and revenue.

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