Vodafone axing 500 jobs? Eyeing up 3 network?

Vodafone are said to be preparing to axe as many as 500 jobs in an effort to cut costs.

Vodafone employs around 9,000 staff in the UK, with the job cuts hitting their Newbury headquarters hardest. “The roles affected are in a number of areas, across a number of locations, primarily in back office functions,”a Vodafone statement reads.

Vodafone did confirm that they would also be looking to fill 170 new “customer facing roles” however. This is in addition to 50 new graduate opportunities picked from 3,000 applicants.

It’s not the only possible shake-up at Vodafone HQ, as CSS Insight analyst Shaun Collins believes that the company could also be making moves to acquire the 3 network.

“Firstly such a deal would be competitively appropriate, and secondly (owner) Hutchison has been looking for options for 3 UK. It would be inconceivable if the two had not talked about 3 UK being acquired. After all Vodafone and 3 merged their businesses in Australia so there is a track record and the channels for communication are there,” Collins commented.

Via: Net Imperative