Virgin Media said that job cuts will help it save over £100m a year
Virgin Media to slash 2,200 jobs
/v3-uk/news/1978030/virgin-media-slash-200-jobs
12 Nov 2008, Phil Muncaster , V3
Cable giant Virgin Media is to cut 2,200 jobs over the next four years as it looks to continue restructuring the company, according to a statement from the firm.
The 13,000-strong organisation claimed that the restructuring will ultimately drive "further improvements in its operational performance", and save around £120m a year.
The majority of job losses will come between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the end of 2010, and follow an "intensive period of review" undertaken after the merger of NTL and Telewest and the subsequent acquisition of Virgin Mobile in 2006.
"These changes are critical to ensuring Virgin Media is positioned to compete effectively and deliver on our customers' changing expectations," said chief executive Neil Berkett in a statement.
"Over the coming weeks and months, we will be developing more detailed proposals for their implementation."
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Do you agree?
Sack Virgin
It's taken just over ten years for Richard Branson to comprehensively sack any trust that consumers had in him and his brand to provide the fair and better deal in internet services, in my view.
I was a loyal Virgin customer for the best part of a decade but after the merger with NTL et al, and the exercise in rebranding that is Virgin Media, it took less than 3 months for me cease doing business with the company and move on.
The lack of Internet connection speed and reliability was matched only by Virgin Media's inability to pick up the telephone and respond to my concerns. Whenever I did get through to them, the only advice they could ever give me was to call BT.
My heart goes out to the ex Virgin Internet employees who in my experience were pretty dedicated. These poor people, most of them Welsh it seemed, found themselves caught up in the devious world that is mergers and acquisitions. However, I for one will not lament the job cuts.
My advice to all Virgin Media's customers is to drop the brand completely and walk away. There are plenty of better deals out there; more reliable as well. Branson and Virgin, have become, in my judgement, something of a joke now, trite and consigned to the last millennium, a bit like Babycham.
Posted by Sid, 12 Nov 2008