Call centre closure a 'disaster'

BBC.

About 450 staff members have been told they have the chance to redeploy within the company or take voluntary redundancy.

According to Mobile News, Virgin Media has been accused by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) of causing a “disaster” for Trowbridge, Wiltshire after revealing plans to shut a predominately call centre.

Virgin, however, hit back at the claims and says the move away from the site, which it expects to close completely in December 2012, was part of Virgin Mobile's integration into Virgin Media.

CWU deputy general-secretary Andy Kerr says: “Coming on the back of the Vodafone decision to pull out of Trowbridge, the local economy will be hit hard by this redundancy double whammy.

However, one source told the The Register that Virgin has also kicked off a major shake-up of its tech operations, including a major outsourcing programme to Accenture.

The source says 174 people will be affected immediately, including 90 redundancies, details of which will also be revealed.

A Virgin spokesman confirmed the outsourcing deal with Accenture, and that 80 roles were “at risk” but added, but that “affected staff would still be eligible for redeployment opportunities”.