BT has closed two of its office sites in Lancashire despite efforts from campaigners.
The Globe Centre in Accrington and the BT Telephone Exchange on Jubilee Street in Blackburn both shut at the end of October as part of the telecoms giant’s ongoing modernisation programme.
Despite campaigns and a public rally in Accrington earlier this year, the closures went ahead as planned, with staff given the choice to relocate or accept redundancy.
BT Group declined to comment officially but told the Lancashire Telegraph that it spoke to employees in Accrington and Blackburn about plans to move their jobs elsewhere. Those who did not want to relocate were offered other options, including voluntary severance packages.
They said managerial roles were affected. A small number of managers and support staff were told that the company might not need the same number of people in those jobs at the new location.
Because of that, some employees had to apply or compete for available roles, while others were told their job could be cut altogether. The BT Group added that all staff were supported with their next career steps.
The sites closed as planned on 31 October, and employees who were relocating started at their new workplaces on 2 November, the BT Group confirmed.
BT described the shutdowns as part of a wider strategy to streamline its office estate.
Earlier this year, the company said: "As part of BT’s ongoing strategy to optimise our office estate and unlock value as part of our modernisation programme, we are proposing to close our Blackburn office on Jubilee Street as well as our Accrington contact centre.
"This change will allow BT to continue to reinvest in spaces that better support our future ways of working and will provide our colleagues with a significantly improved work environment."
Most staff were offered relocation to alternative BT offices, including in Warrington, or voluntary redundancy with an enhanced package.
A BT spokesperson said: "The majority of colleagues in Accrington and Blackburn were consulted on proposals to relocate their roles to another location.
"For those who chose not to relocate, other options were available, including enhanced voluntary severance.
"For a small number of managerial and support roles, proposals were based on the future business requirement at the new location, which in some cases meant consultation on a selection process or a proposal for the role to cease."
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A staff member from the Blackburn site, who wished to remain anonymous, said at the time: "It is understandably a big shock.
"Some people have been here decades."
In April, a rally took place outside the Globe Centre in Accrington, where campaigners called on BT to reconsider its decision and held signs calling for the telecoms giant to reverse its decision.
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