Virgin Media O2 has officially opened its new state-of-the-art North West HQ in central Manchester.
The new office, on John Dalton Street just off Deansgate, will be home to approximately 1,100 staff.
With the lease of its Wythenshawe office due to expire in early 2026, the telecoms giant undertook a comprehensive review of its property options in the area and signed a 10-year agreement with Island to take around 50% of the new site.
Island (pictured below) is a net zero carbon workspace being developed by joint venture partners HBD (part of Henry Boot plc) and Greater Manchester Pensions Fund.
Among the teams moving to Island will be Virgin Media O2’s multi-skilled customer service teams which provide bespoke and specialist support on a range of customer issues, including those tasked with resolving complex enquiries such as bereavements and assisting vulnerable customers.
The firm says the multi-million-pound investment will provide a modern, future-proof space for its people to meet and collaborate in the North West, consistent with the company’s flexible working policies.
Virgin Media O2 is also investing heavily in its digital infrastructure. Over the past 12 months, the operator has upgraded its mobile network in 65 locations across the city, including installing high-capacity small cells in the busy city centre area, to improve services for customers.
Homes and businesses in more than 14,000 postcodes across Greater Manchester are benefiting from stronger 4G and new 5G coverage as a result, it says.
These upgrades are part of O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan, which will see the operator invest approximately £700m this year to future-proof its mobile network.
Virgin Media O2 has also invested more than £100m in recent years to further upgrade and expand its ultrafast broadband network in the city region, which is now available to nearly a million homes and businesses in Greater Manchester.
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“Manchester is a thriving hub for innovation and creativity, and we’re proud to deepen our connection to the region with this significant investment,” said COO Rob Orr.
“Our new North West HQ at Island will provide a modern, sustainable space for our people to collaborate and deliver for customers, while our continued upgrades to mobile and broadband networks ensure Greater Manchester remains at the forefront of digital progress.
“These investments reflect our long-term vision to support local communities, power the digital economy, and create a future-ready network for everyone.”
Through an ongoing partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Virgin Media O2 also recently provided the Greater Manchester Tech Fund with 1,000 refurbished devices to people who cannot afford them.
The initiative is part of the company’s work to donate 12,000 devices from its supply chain in 2025 and has been delivered via the Community Calling Partnership with environmental charity Hubbub and the National Databank.
Founded by Virgin Media O2 and the Good Things Foundation, the scheme has already rehomed 26,000 smartphones.