‘Stripping jobs out of Derry is an absolute disgrace': Concerns as BT closing office in ‘devastating' blow to city

Belfast Telegraph

30-04-2025

The Belfast Telegraph was informed that the entire site is closing and some jobs will be moved to Belfast.
An email sent to staff, and shared with this newspaper, shows that BT wants customers to resolve common billing issues online rather than by phone call.
The company created an automated virtual assistant which is now supporting customers online.
AI and other technological improvements, the email says, will 'increase customer self-serve journeys', with the company keen to reduce costs and 'drive revenue growth given challenging market conditions'.
The communication says Derry is 'not a long-term strategic location for the BT Group' and the building is 'not considered suitable for long-term occupation and no longer meets the standard of accommodation that we want for our people'.
"BT Group has previously announced its intention to reduce the number of office locations.
"This has led us to consider whether it's viable to continue to have a Billing footprint in Derry-Londonderry, or whether we should consider consolidating our Billing in our GBS operations in India, where 85% of Billing activity is completed.
"After careful consideration we've taken the difficult decision to propose closing the Customer Service Billing operations in Derry-Londonderry and, BT Group has taken the difficult decision to propose closing Derry-Londonderry TE to all desk-based workers.'
It says that for team members and team leaders who work in those roles, their last day will be 30 September 2025, with two team members and two team leaders staying until 31 March 2026 "to support the transition of work and accountabilities' – if they don't wish to accept that offer, their final day is 30 September 2025.
News Catch Up - Wednesday 30 April
It comes as Derry City & Strabane council has unanimously backed a motion from People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin requesting a meeting with BT management.
The motion from councillors will express the 'concern and the anger' felt by people across the city feel following the announcement.
The members in the council agreed to send solidarity to BT workers and their families and 'commit to do everything we can to support them'.
'Council will meet with the CWU to offer our support,' the motion added.
'Council requests the Economy Minister and Invest NI work with Council and the trade union to do everything possible to support workers and employment here.'
Mr Harkin said 'targeting and stripping jobs out of Derry is an absolute disgrace' and is a 'decision driven by maximising profits, with no care shown to workers or their communities'.
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has said that the proposed loss of around 140 jobs at BT in Derry will have a 'serious impact'.
Mr Eastwood added: 'This is devastating news for BT workers, their families and the broader local economy in Derry.
"At a time when we need to be investing more in jobs and opportunities in our city, the proposed loss of these jobs will have a serious impact.
'I am in touch with senior leaders at BT about these plans and am relaying the outrage in Derry that staff and the whole community will be feeling. Relocating these roles to India and Belfast is a mistake, it makes regional economic imbalances worse and it's a direct transfer of opportunity from our city to other places that do not need it.
'I will be raising this mater directly with Ministers in London and Belfast. Both have indicated their commitment to addressing the opportunity gap and it's time that they put their money where their mouth is."
Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin has also posted on Facebook saying: 'I am deeply disappointed by BT's decision to close its Derry office, putting around 140 jobs at risk.
'This is a devastating blow to our city and to the workers now facing huge uncertainty.
'Immediate support must be put in place for all those affected – including options for redeployment, retraining and financial help.
'Once again, we are seeing jobs stripped from Derry while services are centralised in Belfast. That is not sustainable and it's not fair. People here should not have to relocate or commute to access secure, good-quality employment.'
She added: 'The loss of these jobs is part of a bigger problem: the failure of successive Executives to deliver for the North West. Generation after generation, we've been left behind on jobs, wages and investment. This is a political choice.
'We need a joined up governmental approach to deliver regional growth that delivers real opportunity to every corner of Northern Ireland – including here in Derry.'
BT said: 'BT is going through an ambitious modernisation programme and consolidating buildings within its estate from more than 300 to closer to 30, modern workspaces. We are considering closing our office in Derry - Londonderry and we are consulting with colleagues and their unions on our proposals.
"Where appropriate, people will be given the opportunity to relocate to other roles at our Riverside Tower office in Belfast, which benefited from a multi-million pound refurbishment in 2023 and which is home to around 2,000 people. Benefiting from a state-of-the-art workplace, there are also greater career opportunities within a larger location for colleagues. There's no impact to customers from these proposals.
'BT Group remains committed to Northern Ireland, building full fibre broadband further and faster than anyone else. We've already reached nearly 90 per cent of homes and businesses with Openreach's full fibre broadband network, and with extensive 5G and 4G mobile coverage from EE, Northern Ireland is the most digitally connected region in the UK.'