BT Group has announced plans to close its Liverpool city centre office at The Plaza on Old Hall Street, putting more than 600 jobs at risk. The proposal has left workers 'devastated' and facing an uncertain future, according to union officials.
Details of the Proposed Closure
The telecommunications company currently employs 601 staff at The Plaza, including BT Business employees, Openreach workers, and approximately 100 999 call handlers. The 999 call handlers have been contracted to BT since 2024 as part of a £1.29bn deal with the Home Office to provide mobile services for the Government’s Emergency Services Network.
BT Group is proposing to relocate some staff to its offices in Manchester and Leeds, but acknowledges that these options will not be viable for all employees. A BT Group spokesperson said: 'We are working closely with impacted colleagues, with some proposed to move to other locations. We will continue to support all our colleagues throughout this change.' The spokesperson added that some employees may be offered relocation packages or discretionary enhanced redundancy.
Timeline and Consultation
The plan to leave The Plaza building was communicated to staff on June 30, and the consultation process is scheduled to start on July 20. BT Group's lease at The Plaza expires in March next year. The Communications and Workers Union is committed to advocating for its members throughout this period.
BT Group stated that the decision follows a 'strategic review' of its operations, and that it is engaging with employees, unions, local representatives, and MPs. The company will consider all feedback raised as part of the consultation process.
Political and Community Reaction
Kim Johnson MP, who represents Liverpool Riverside, expressed deep disappointment. She said: 'I am deeply disappointed by these proposals and the complete lack of meaningful consultation. The prospect of more than 601 jobs being put at risk is simply unacceptable. We cannot underestimate the human impact, including the expectation that hundreds of people potentially uproot their lives. This is another example of the damage caused when decisions are driven by corporate cost-cutting rather than people and communities.'
Johnson highlighted Liverpool's strengths as a digital economy hub, adding: 'Our city is one of the UK’s fastest-growing digital economies, with outstanding transport links, a highly skilled workforce and world-class universities. Liverpool has everything a major employer needs. BT must recognise that, and show the same commitment to Liverpool and its workforce that its employees have shown to the company.'
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Kim Johnson MP, and Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson have co-signed a letter to BT, asking the company to reconsider its move out of Liverpool and highlighting the availability of alternative premises. The ECHO understands that BT made the decision to leave The Plaza due to the possibility of increased rents, but it had not entered into negotiations with the landlord about rent prices, instead making its decision after a strategic review.
