DESABAMENTO UK

1100 PESSOAS

MORE than 1,100 people have lost their jobs after the biggest call centre in the North East collapsed following the loss of three of its biggest contracts in a matter of days.

Garlands Call Centres, launched two decades ago by Chey Garland from the attic of her home and which grew at one point to employ more than 3,000 people, was yesterday put into administration. Almost all of its current 1,158 workforce was immediately made redundant.

Staff at its call centres in South Shields and Middlesbrough and at its Hartlepool head office learned the business had foundered after losing major contracts with Vodafone and TalkTalk.

Fighting back tears, Ms Garland told The Journal: “I feel physically sick. This has been a desperately difficult day and I almost feel as if it’s not really happening. It’s like a dream and I feel just awful.

“My main thoughts are with my staff. We made sure we paid them on Friday but now I am wondering how they will pay their mortgages and find another job. I am absolutely shattered.”