Virgin Media is to close 53 of its stores in another blow for the high street.
The stores first closed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic back in March., however the telecoms company has now said that it won't reopen them once restrictions surrounding retailers ease.
Here's what you need to know.
Why aren't Virgin Media reopening stores?
The company says fewer customers are visiting their stores, adding that the majority of sales and customer enquiries now take place either on their website or by phone.
What will happen to Virgin Media staff?
More than 300 shop workers, who haven't been furloughed, will be offered first refusal of about 300 newly created at-home customer service roles, and will also be able to apply for a total of 50 field sales advisor roles, located across the country.
The company said the new permanent roles have similar levels of pay compared to shop floor staff. Those who don't get the one of the newly created roles or don't wish to take them will be made redundant.
This is the full list of all 53 Virgin Media stores that will be closed:
- Barking
- Bedford
- Belfast
- Birmingham Perry Barr
- Bolton
- Bootle
- Bradford
- Bristol
- Burnley
- Cambridge
- Cardiff
- Coventry
- Croydon
- Derby
- Doncaster
- Dundee Wellgate
- Edinburgh - Hanover
- Edmonton Green
- Glasgow
- Hanley
- Harrow St Anns
- Hounslow
- Ilford
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Leicester - Haymarket
- Lewisham
- Liverpool
- Luton
- Merry Hill
- Middlesbrough (Two stores)Newcastle
- Northampton
- Norwich
- Nottingham
- Oldham
- Peterborough
- Plymouth
- Portsmouth
- Preston
- Reading
- Solihull
- Southampton
- St Helens
- Stockport
- Sutton
- Swansea
- Telford
- Walthamstow
- Wimbledon
- Wolverhampton Wulfrun
- Wood Green
What other chains are disappearing from the high street?
Companies such as; Laura Ashley, Cath Kidston, Oasis and Warehouse also shut their doors for good during the lockdown.
Latest figures from the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) estimate that about 20,000 shops will close in 2020 - with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic acting as a “hammer blow against the sector”.
What have Virgin Media said about the changes?
Rob Orr, executive director for sales at Virgin Media, said: “We are focused on delivering the service customers want, in the ways they want it and at a time and a place that suits them."
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