Task force meets over job losses

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A response group set up to help 900 Shop Direct staff who are facing redundancy from a Sunderland call centre is holding its first meeting.

The home shopping group announced last month that Sunderland was one of three sites to close.

The firm blamed the move on more people choosing to shop online rather than phoning to speak to its staff.

The response group includes Sunderland Council JobCentre Plus and regional development agency One North East.

Union leaders said the closure was a "devastating blow" to the local communities involved.

'Positive development'

But Shop Direct, which owns brands including Littlewoods, Additions Direct, Very, Empire Stores and Marshall Ward, said over the past five years, its proportion of sales via online had increased from 18% to more than 60%.

The response group, chaired by Sunderland Council's deputy chief executive Janet Johnson, said it hoped other call centre firms would fill the gap left by the Shop Direct closure.

Paul Watson, the Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "We've already been contacted by a number of companies in the same sector following last week's announcement.

"This is a really positive development, and we'll be looking to do everything we can to offer as much help and support as possible to the Shop Direct employees."

Shop Direct also plans to close sites in Burnley and Newtown in Powys.

It was formerly known as Littlewoods Home Shopping.