Virgin Media is to cut about 2,200 jobs by 2012.

Media Boy UK · 11-11-2008, 14:51

Virgin Media is to cut about 2,200 jobs by 2012 as part of a cost-cutting drive.

The company, which employs about 14,600 staff, said that it intends to make most of the cuts between the fourth quarter next year and the end of 2010.

Virgin Media said that the cuts form part of an operational restructure "aimed at driving further improvements in operational performance and ensuring it offers the best possible products, services and value for money to its customers".

The company said that the restructure follows an "intensive period of review" that began earlier this year.

"These changes are critical to ensuring Virgin Media is positioned to compete effectively and deliver on our customers' changing expectations," said the Virgin Media chief executive, Neil Berkett.

"Over the coming weeks and months, we will be developing more detailed proposals for their implementation. We recognise that this brings with it significant uncertainty for our people and the communities where they work. Throughout the process, we will be communicating as early and openly as we can."

Virgin Media said decisions on what departments and locations will be affected are still to be finalised.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008...media-job-cuts

Info from Media Guardian.

11-11-2008, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Media Boy

Virgin Media is to cut about 2,200 jobs by 2012 as part of a cost-cutting drive.

More details soon ...

Info from Media Guardian.

Just been confirmed by BBC News on air.

Not goods news again for Virgin Staff!!!!!

Russ · 11-11-2008, 15:05

I've just emailed one of our Vm contacts for a statement on this - however the official word might come up on other outlets before they get back to me.

I'll put the statement up here when it arrives though.

AndyCambs · 11-11-2008, 15:08

Sign of the times I am afraid - everyone is looking to cut costs at the moment..

Russ · 11-11-2008, 15:23

I've just received the official word - this will be made a news article soon:

Quote:

Virgin Media today announced that it is undertaking a restructuring of its operations aimed at driving further improvements in its operational performance and ensuring it offers the best possible products, service and value for money to its customers.

Virgin Media expects these changes to significantly improve the efficiency of the business and reduce its workforce by approximately 2200 by 2012. Subject to internal consultation, the company anticipates the majority of these changes are likely to be implemented between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the end of 2010.

The restructuring builds on the merger of ntl and Telewest and the subsequent acquisition of Virgin Mobile in 2006. It is a result of an intensive period of review which started in early 2008 to understand what is needed to create a fully-integrated, customer-focused organisation that is capable of competing effectively for the long-term.

The implications of the proposals for specific departments or locations are still to be finalised, however the company will be talking with employee representatives about its proposed new operating model. As the detailed impact of these changes become clear, Virgin Media will continue to collectively consult with its people and, wherever possible, look to mitigate the need for redundancy and offer alternative roles to those affected.

Neil Berkett, CEO of Virgin Media, said "These changes are critical to ensuring Virgin Media is positioned to compete effectively and deliver on our customers' changing expectations. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be developing more detailed proposals for their implementation. We recognise that this brings with it significant uncertainty for our people and the communities where they work. Throughout the process, we will be communicating as early and openly as we can."

injuneer · 11-11-2008, 15:32

Seems to be a continuous theme in VM, as it was in all previous incarnations!

smeagoly1 · 11-11-2008, 15:35

Just read it on the BBC, sad news indeed, a sign of the times. My partners firm are in the same boat, a very uncertain future for all. Not just VM that have to make large job cuts and say it's "aimed at driving further improvements in its operational performance and ensuring it offers the best possible products" her firm used the same lines and are cutting 8,000 plus.

I can understand firms in the current financial climate cutting workforce, just to stay in business and weather the storm.

BBKing · 11-11-2008, 16:36

On the slight upside, it's not immediately before Christmas (actually in 2009-2010) and it's less as a percentage of the workforce than the last round post-merger.

That's the *slight* upside. Not done a great deal for morale or motivation, obviously, but we've all been through it before, some of us a number of times.

higgsfield · 11-11-2008, 16:37

This is bad news for everybody.

The staff who will eventually lose their jobs, of course.
All the staff who, in the meantime go through a period of uncertainty*.
The families of all of those.
All those who depend on the custom of those affected.

And lastly us, as customers:-
The VM staff will be demoralised and unhappy. The service we get before the cuts will suffer.
The staff will be depleted after the changes, which can only affect the service as well.

A sign of the times. More unemployment. Recession looms large in the economy. Very sad.

(*my employer has also recently cut 10% of the workforce - I know how this feels).

Sirius · 11-11-2008, 16:57

Sad day and news for those that work for VM.

Bet this is because they intend to outsource as much as they can.

gadge · 11-11-2008, 16:59

I suppose they have to pay for the sky basics somehow.

Nedkelly · 11-11-2008, 17:04

Does anyone know where the cuts are going to be ? .Its the same every year

job cuts well what a great morale booster for the staff

Arthurgray50@blu · 11-11-2008, 17:13

I have just seen on text with Sky News, that VM, is to axe 2.000 staff next year to restructure the company.

What is going to happen now, At the present time, l read on this forum about the poor quality of service, that is provided so far by VM, so if they are going to axe more staff, surely, the service will get worse, you cannor run a major company such as VM, with less and less staff, they should be taking on staff, not getting rid of them, or this a case of more and more service coming from Delhi, India where it is cheaper, as if you call CS now, it is 90% certain it will be India that answers the call.

BBKing · 11-11-2008, 17:28

Quote:

Bet this is because they intend to outsource as much as they can.

Outsourcing much more costs money, after all the easy squashy stuff is mostly already out there - big, expensive IT systems aren't going to be easy to fund, surely.

Nedkelly · 11-11-2008, 17:35

Just look at the amount of money we waste on projects and computer systems that dont work or work for a while .The pda system which a good part of the work force still have not got .When we were told our department was 4millon over budget we asked for a breakdown to see where the money had gone still no answer on this yet.A lot of people will be saying get on with it we want to know NOW NOT LATER.