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Manchester

BA to ‘outsource more than 1,000 UK call centre jobs’…

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A spokesman for British Airways (BA) has confirmed that the airline is considering outsourcing its UK contact centre operations in a bid to reduce costs at its Manchester and Newcastle sites.

Branded “a slap in the face” to its employees by the trade union, Unite, BA – owned by International Airlines Group – has reportedly already asked outsourcing firms to assess the two call centre sites and bid for the jobs. Third-party firms have also been approached to submit proposals for potential cost-effective solutions to implement. 

It is thought that a downturn in the aviation industry has prompted BA to make these cuts to compete with the popularity of low-cost airlines.

Consultation with union representatives and staff members will take place before a final decision is made, and the BA spokesman claims that outsourcing these jobs would enable the use of the latest technology to further improve customer service.

Oliver Richardson, Unite national officer, said in a statement published on the union’s website: “This review is nothing short of a slap in the face for hardworking staff who have constantly adapted to changing markets, while continuing to deliver the highest level of customer service.

“A cloud of uncertainty now hangs over the heads of workers who fear that their jobs will be outsourced or offshored as a result of this exercise. Such a scenario would lead to poorer customer service and a more fragmented experience for passengers. 

“We urge IAG to resist the temptation to engage in a crude cost cutting exercise and repay its loyal workforce by keeping the customer service operations of our national carrier in–house.” 

RSVP launches ‘Artists’ division at new Manchester site…

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The outsourced call centre company RSVP has introduced its in-house actors agency, RSVP Artists, to the recently opened MediaCityUK site in Manchester.

The company, which has been employing actors for the past 28 years at its London office, has extended the existing agency to its newly-appointed Manchester workforce that opened its doors in October.

RSVP Artists will offer a wide range of talent including actors, singers and dancers. Those currently on the books include recent drama school graduates, to seasoned professionals with prior experience working in TV, film and radio. The company predicts it will represent 150 creatives in Manchester alone within the next year.

Hiten Patel, director at RSVP Manchester, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching RSVP Artists here in Manchester. As a company run by actors for actors, it makes perfect sense to offer our employees an in-house agency.

“Auditions and castings take place daily here in Media City, so we are perfectly located. I still maintain that we are the only company in the UK actively trying to find our staff work that takes them away from us!”

Once staff members successfully complete an induction at RSVP Manchester, they are given access to representation at RSVP Artists and will be represented in exactly the same way as any other commercial agency. The division fully supports all employees at every stage of their career development and provides additional benefits including reduced headshot costs, free rehearsal spaces, as well as discounted beauty and hairdressing treatments.

Commenting on RSVP’s North West expansion, Mark Abernethy, managing director, said: “MediaCityUK is such a great place for us to be situated in the North. It’s a vibrant and creative environment and it suits us perfectly to be so close to The Lowry Theatre, BBC North, ITV Studios and the Coronation Street set.

“It will be great to have so many casting directors close by and they in turn will have easy access to a pool of actors, should they need to fill last minute castings. This is the perfect location for our actor agents, and also for our business growth.”