Call centre workers 'unaffected' by Northern Rock takeover

Date: 21/11/2011

Non-geographic phone numbers may still be required at a Northern Rock call centre in the north-east following the takeover of the company.

The bank has now been adopted by Virgin Money, although workers at its contact site in Sunderland will be unaffected by the change, the Sunderland Echo reports.

It was confirmed on Friday (November 18th) that it will be business as usual for employees at Doxford International Business Park.

This news was welcomed by the North East Chamber of Commerce, which said it is "extremely" pleased that Virgin will be establishing headquarters in Newcastle.

Chief executive of the organisation James Ramsbotham, said the firm has "provided assurances that there will be no additional compulsory redundancies for at least three years".

Plans for a new call centre site are currently being developed in Torbay, with chief executive of Torbay Development Agency Steve Parrock telling the Herald Express that his group wants to build new premises at White Rock in Paignton.