Virgin Media waves goodbye to its high street stores
Many companies have been severely affected by the spread of Coronavirus which has caused an unprecedented shift in consumer behavior and consequently the disruption and subsequent closure of high street stores in towns and cities across the world.
Virgin Media, which employs 12,000 people, continues today to offer some of the most impressive broadband and television packages in the world, however the spread of Coronavirus has been a turning point. As such, the company has decided to disappear from the UK high street, shifting away from (declining) store sales to online and phone sales, according to reports.
In July 2006, NTL Telewest purchased Virgin Mobile UK, creating the first “quadruple-play” media company in the United Kingdom; providing customers with broadband internet access, telephone, television and wireless services across the United Kingdom. It also provides exceptional experiences and on demand entertainment. This makes Virgin Media one of the biggest telecommunications and media players in the UK.
Virgin Media will offer 341employees alternative jobs in customer services and sales, while leaving its 53 stores closed after lockdown ends. Around 300 of the alternative jobs will be in customer care with most workers staying home – after the success of call centre staff who have been working remotely during the lockdown. Another 50 newly created roles will be related to field sales.
According to reports, plans to reduce the number of stores and kiosks it operates from were already put place before the virus. In addition, Virgin Media is speeding up its plans to move away from high street sales as more enquiries come in online and over the phone.
“We are focused on delivering the services customers want, in the ways they want it and at a time and place that suits them,” said Rob Orr, Executive Director at Virgin Media. “By creating new jobs in our most popular care and sales channels, we will be better able to provide our customers with the top service and support they rightly expect while retaining our talented workforce.”
The company is currently in the early stages of a merger with the mobile operator O2 to create a new TV, broadband and mobile powerhouse to challenge BT and Sky.