Virgin Media O2 plans thousands of job cuts

Virgin Media O2 plans to cut thousands of jobs as part of a cost-reduction programme it says will save about £800 million by 2029. The telecoms group has not disclosed how many roles will go, but said most reductions would affect non-customer-facing work. The planned workforce cuts are expected to account for about £300 million of the savings. The company said this represents roughly 30% of its people costs over the next two years. Its UK workforce numbers about 16,000, according to the company. Virgin Media O2 also expects to deliver about £400 million in savings during 2027. The figures are targets set out by the company as part of its cost-reduction plan, rather than independently verified outcomes. Other measures include reducing reliance on contractors, simplifying supplier relationships and reviewing technology licences. The company also plans to make greater use of artificial intelligence tools and digital channels, including in customer service, to improve efficiency and productivity and customer experience. The company said organisational changes were already under way, including a substantial reduction in senior leadership roles since the summer. It has not given a...