Mike Hedges AM asks for an update on Welsh Government support for Virgin Media staff in the process of losing their staff.

Mike Hedges AM asks for an update on Welsh Government support for Virgin Media staff in the process of losing their staff.

Speaking after the Plenary Session, Swansea East AM, Mike Hedges said… ‘I know that it might seem as if I am like a stuck record on this matter, but listening to me asking for regular updates is but a small matter compared the stresses faced by my constituents who face a Christmas and new year full of uncertainties as the look forward to losing their jobs in 2019. I am pleased that job fairs and other support have been provided via the Welsh Government and that this will continue in to 2019.’

Questions to the Government Business Manager

Mike Hedges AM - I would like to make two requests for Welsh Government statements. The first is one that the leader of the house is quite used to me asking about, but I make no apologies for continuing to do so because it's hugely important to my and her constituents, and that is an update on Virgin Media job losses and the Welsh Government support for those who are losing their jobs, and it's getting very close now to the time when everybody will be losing their jobs.

Julie James AM - In terms of Virgin Media, the first tranche of redundant staff left the company in November, as I know he's well aware. There are two phases planned for next year as well. Our placement support team has taken on responsibility for providing staff with onsite access to key partners of the taskforce, including Careers Wales,  the Department for Work and Pensions and local employers. The Welsh contact centre forum is a key partner in our taskforce and has arranged job fairs in October at the Virgin Media site and brought recruiting employers to the site as well as providing careers advice for those staff seeking alternative employment. It's too early for me to provide specific details of those who have been successful in securing alternative employment as a result of the job fairs, but we are holding further job fairs to coincide with the additional tranches of staff leaving the company next year. So, our involvement continues in order to make sure that all of the staff who are affected by this have the best possible outcome.