VIRGIN Media's retail store in Belfast's Castlecourt shopping centre will not reopen after the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, it has emerged.
But the eight staff members won't lose their jobs, and are instead being offered the chance to apply for roles in sales and customer service, where they can continue to work from home.
It is part of a UK-wide strategic shift by the cable and TV company to shut all 53 of its stores and offer the 341 impacted staff the opportunity to move into to newly created roles.
A spokesman for the company told the Irish News: "It's important to stress that while we’ve taken the difficult decision to close retail stores and kiosks, every employee is being offered the opportunity to stay within the business.
"Because of the new jobs we’re creating, Virgin Media is actually growing its workforce right now, as well as over the past few months."
He added: "The move away from retail stores is part of our plan to enhance digital customer services and make it easier for customers to contact us if they need to.
"The majority of Virgin Media’s sales and customer enquiries already take place online or over the phone, with fewer customers choosing to our retail stores.
"Consumers are continuing to go online as they increasingly expect to be able to access help and support on their preferred communications channel at a time that suits them - a trend expected to continue in the future."
