Energy giant closes two Black Country sites - at cost of 250 jobs

The doors closed at the Birchfield House and Quayside House offices in Oldbury on Friday following an announcement last November that the company would be restructuring its customer service activities, including outsourcing work to India.

The decision to close the Birchfield House office and move staff to its neighbouring office Birch House, has meant the loss of 150 jobs.

The company's Quayside House office which also employed 150 people has also shut.

Fifty staff from across the two sites have been reemployed across the business but more than 250 people were made redundant.

The job losses come after the energy supplier, owned by Germany's RWE, decided to close centres across the country, choosing to outsource much of its customer service and back office functions to Capita and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

But the firm has assured customers that call centres will remain in the UK.

Those losing jobs in Oldbury had an official leaving date of June 30, but bosses at the Birchfield House branch let staff finish at 1.30pm on Friday and organised a party for all the employees.

John Pepper, site leader at the Birchfield House site said: "The leaving do is a very positive experience for staff, given the circumstances. It is emotional but we wanted to give staff the opportunity to spend time together away from the office.

"The company has funded the party as a good will gesture and a way to thank the staff for all they have done under the difficult circumstances."

Lee Wilkes, customer account manager across all three of the sites, added: "There is a small percentage of people who have been retained with internal positions but roughly 250 people have lost their jobs."

Raj Aujla, aged 38, from Sutton Coldfield, started with the company 17 years ago and has been made redundant. She said: "This was my first job and I am sad to be leaving but work has been fantastic. Since April they have been consistent with advice and support. I am going to spend the summer with my children and look for a new job in September."