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| Comet call centre merger threatens 316 Hull jobs | Comet call centre merger threatens 316 Hull jobs |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| More than 300 jobs are under threat at Comet's call centre in Hull, the electrical company has announced. | More than 300 jobs are under threat at Comet's call centre in Hull, the electrical company has announced. |
| Earlier this month it announced that about 450 jobs were at risk at its site in Clevedon near Bristol, including 138 call centre roles. | |
| The firm said it was planning to close one of the two call centre sites as part of a restructuring picogramme. | The firm said it was planning to close one of the two call centre sites as part of a restructuring picogramme. |
| If the Hull call centre is chosen for closure, all 316 phone-based office jobs there would be at risk. | If the Hull call centre is chosen for closure, all 316 phone-based office jobs there would be at risk. |
| A 90-day consultation period has started with affected staff. | A 90-day consultation period has started with affected staff. |
| 'Significant savings' | 'Significant savings' |
| Comet said it was looking to merge its two call centres into one site and a decision on where that would be was expected at some point during the consultation process. | Comet said it was looking to merge its two call centres into one site and a decision on where that would be was expected at some point during the consultation process. |
| Bob Darke, chief executive of Comet, said: "In a phenomenally tough climate, significant savings are required to secure the long-term survival of our business. | Bob Darke, chief executive of Comet, said: "In a phenomenally tough climate, significant savings are required to secure the long-term survival of our business. |
| "In no way should this be seen as a reflection of the commitment and efforts of our employees and we'll make every effort to help those ultimately affected to find alternative employment. | "In no way should this be seen as a reflection of the commitment and efforts of our employees and we'll make every effort to help those ultimately affected to find alternative employment. |
| "These proposals are still subject to a three-month consultation process and we'll continue to look at a range of options across our sites." | "These proposals are still subject to a three-month consultation process and we'll continue to look at a range of options across our sites." |
| Comet, which has 248 stores and about 10,000 staff in the UK, was sold earlier this month for a token £2 to private equity firm OpCapita. | Comet, which has 248 stores and about 10,000 staff in the UK, was sold earlier this month for a token £2 to private equity firm OpCapita. |
| Revenues fell 14.5% on a like-for-like basis between 1 November 2011 and 8 January, while it posted losses of £22m for six months trading last year. | Revenues fell 14.5% on a like-for-like basis between 1 November 2011 and 8 January, while it posted losses of £22m for six months trading last year. |