TalkTalk to slash 580 jobs across the UK

TalkTalk is to cut 580 jobs at sites across the UK between now and April as part of a "major restructuring" of its business.

The firm said that the cuts were necessary to simplify its business and operate more efficiently, but noted that it will maintain customer support staff and safeguard customer service roles where possible.

TalkTalk chief executive Dido Harding claimed that the decision was forced on the company owing to the rate of its success in the past five years.

"TalkTalk has effectively grown as three separate businesses serving the consumer and business-to-business markets, supported by a network division, each with its own IT, HR and finance function," she said.

"This has created a level of duplication, and it is now time to address that and build an organisation fit for the future. From today, we will have one consolidated central services team with all IT services being housed within the technology team."

Harding also announced that TalkTalk's Opal business division will be rebranded as TalkTalk Business.

The company is currently preparing a legal challenge alongside BT against the Digital Economy Act.