600 jobs go as call centre shuts

Advertisement

Workers speak about the "unexpected" job losses

Around 600 jobs are to go at a call centre in Cardiff, after its closure was confirmed.

Ventura plans to shut its contact centre in Ocean Park House, in the Splott area of the city.

The company, which is the UK's largest call centre outsourcer, said it hoped to redeploy staff into other roles where possible.

However, it said: "We regret that there will be a number of redundancies at this site".

The company has seven UK offices and its clients include O2 and the Volkswagen group.

The Cardiff office opened in 2004, when the former Serco call centre was taken over, securing and creating 300 jobs.

Owned by the Next clothing retailer, Ventura recently marked its 40th anniversary by announcing it was to rebrand, to include its wider range of services involving IT solutions, debt management and warehousing.

This decision is no reflection of the wider contact centre industry in Wales Sandra Busby, Welsh Contact Centre Forum

One member of staff, who did not want to be named, said the lease on the building was ending and they understood work was being moved to other call centres.

The worker said staff had been told the office would close in September.

The company would not answer questions or add to its brief statement.

A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly Government said they were "extremely disappointed, particularly given the strength of the contact centre sector in Wales".

The spokesman added: "We have worked with the company over a number of years, and provided financial support to help expand their Cardiff operation.

"Our first priority, of course, is to try and prevent these jobs from being lost, and senior officials from the Department for Economy and Transport are in the process of speaking to the company to discuss this announcement in detail and identify what support can be provided to keep these jobs in Cardiff."

Economy

Jenny Randerson, Liberal Democrat AM for Cardiff Central, said she had been unaware of the closure of the site but added: "It's a sign of a downturn in the economy. The key thing is they are all sorts of jobs, from call centre jobs to highly trained and skilled jobs in the education sector."

However, the group representing call centres in Wales, the Welsh Contact Centre Forum, said it felt that the industry was still performing well.

The forum's managing director, Sandra Busby, added: "We are naturally disappointed that Ventura has decided to move out of Cardiff, as we believe it has a lot to offer to call centre operations looking for sophisticated infrastructure and a skilled workforce.

"This decision is no reflection of the wider contact centre industry in Wales, which is a vibrant sector contributing £400m to our economy every year and employing 28,000 people.

"We aim to work closely with Ventura to put processes in place to give those people affected by these job losses the opportunity to talk to other employers, with a view to finding alternative employment."

---

Here are a selection of your thoughts.

My Husband works there, he has done for 2 years and he was told yesterday at about 2.30pm. The job center is suppose to be going in to the building to have a chat with the employees to discuss how they can help them. We are hoping that he can get a job soon if he will stay til the end and he gets just over £400 in redundancy money but they are many who dont quailfy. we have 2 children a 3 year old and a 5 month old.
Mrs Evans, Cardiff,Wales

I empathise with Mrs Evans. I was also made redundant from a call centre a few years ago after working there for 3 years. I had a 2 year-old and was 5 months pregnant. I got £550 redundancy money and no hope at all for another job until after my baby was born; nor could I claim job-seekers. Chin up Mrs Evans and remember that no matter how bleak it seems there is always a tomorrow.
Mrs D, Swindon UK

I work at this site, and now its closing it looks doubtfull that i will be able to find another job, its hard enough trying to find a vacany as it is, but with an extra 440 people looking, that dramatically reduces the chance.
Jimmy Jones, Cardiff Wales

I joined Ventura in December 2006 and am currently on Maternity Leave. I was due to return to work in September and am disgusted that I had to find out that my job is no more by watchng the afternoon news! Imagine my absolute shock to discover that I will now be unemployed with 2 small children to support and not one word from the company itself!?!
M Taylor, Treharris, Wales

I worked in Ventura for about 10 months (left towards the end of last year)

I'd like to extend my thoughts to all those fantastic staff who have worked so tirelessly in that place.

It's a sad day for many and this seems like the worst time for news like this as well considering recent events.
Rhys Lord, Cardiff, Wales

Wales really has a paper-thin economy. Last week the Welsh Assembly Government shrugged off a report showing Wales had the slowest growth of all the UK regions over the last 10 years, referring instead to the jobs it's created. That won't be something they can hide behind for much longer.

I feel for people losing their jobs at any time, but right now it's especially hard.
Phil Thomas, Anglesey, North Wales

I agree with Phil Thomas of Anglesey, not only is the Welsh economy on thin ice,the powers that be live in an Alice in Wonderland economy.The prime example being the Anglesey to Cardiff air service.Planes full of public employees flying with a heavily subsidised company is heralded as a massive "success".
G P Narey, llandudno

I am one of those being made redundant and I only found out this morning when I got in for what I thought was a normal day at work.

Unfortunately there is nothing good to say about Ventura or the way they have handled this. It was only recently they have been telling us they were not taking on anymore people because they wanted to make it a 'centre of excellence' but I guess we all know the real reason now.

Anon