Virgin Media is closing 53 stores permanently after lockdown restrictions are lifted

Virgin Media is closing 53 stores permanently after lockdown restrictions are lifted with 300 shop staff offered alternative roles

  • 341 members of staff will be offered new roles in at-home customer service
  • Those who refuse or are not selected will be made redundant by Virgin Media
  • The move follows Cath Kidson and Chiquitos in disappearing from highstreets
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Virgin Media has become the latest coronavirus victim on the highstreet as it confirms all of its stores will stay closed after the lockdown is lifted.

The telecommunications company has 53 stores across the country but none have survived the coronavirus shutdown.

The coronavirus lockdown, which was enforced in March, has exacerbated the falling number of customers entering their stores.

The Mirror reports that Virgin Media’s executive director for sales Rob Orr said: ‘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.’

Virgin Media has closed all of its 53 stores in the UK permanently and says all 341 non-furloughed staff will be offered at-home customer service roles

All 341 of Virgin Media’s non-furloughed staff will be offered alternative roles within the company as it looks to move its business online.

The staff will be given first refusal of at least 300 brand new roles in at-home customer service.

Those who refuse the new jobs or are not selected will be made redundant.

The end of Virgin Media’s highstreet stores follows in the footsteps of other retail brands that have been forced to close because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Laura Ashley, Cath Kidston and restaurant chain Chiquito have all been coronavirus highstreet fatalities.

Earlier this month it was reported that Virgin Media and O2 would be merging to create a £31billion media a telecoms giant that could provide competition to BT

Earlier this month it was reported that Virgin Media and O2 would be merging to create a £31billion media a telecoms giant that could provide competition to BT

The Sun reports that 20,000 shops are expected to close for good in 2020 because of the hammer blow dealt by coronavirus, according to the Centre for Retail Research.

Earlier this month it was reported that Virgin Media and O2 would be merging to create a £31billion media a telecoms giant that could provide competition to BT.

It is believed the merger will speed-up the installation of 5G networks across the country and could see as much as £10billion of infrastructure investment in the UK market over the next five years.

Ernest Doku, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, said: ‘This merger will almost certainly throw down a challenge to the most dominant player, BT.

‘It’s a natural and complementary fit, with O2 returning to fixed-line broadband and Virgin Media bolstering its mobile proposition.’  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk