AO World Outsourcing Call Centre Jobs
Online electrical goods retailer AO World has announced plans to relocate a substantial portion of its UK call centre operations to South Africa. This strategic move, which could affect up to 200 roles, is attributed by the company to increasing operational costs, specifically highlighting rising employment expenses.
Impact on UK Workforce and Financial Implications
Approximately 150 positions in Bolton, UK, have already been eliminated as part of this transition. The company anticipates that this outsourcing initiative will generate annual savings of around £4 million. This decision comes as AO World reported a 145% surge in profits and distributed £20 million to its shareholders.
The company stated that the shift of these roles overseas is a direct response to "ongoing inflationary cost pressures, and particularly rising employment costs."
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