BT shuts loss-making venture shedding 2,300 jobs

Telecoms group BT announced plans to shut Concert – its joint venture with US giant AT&T – in a move which will see up to 2,300 jobs lost.

The long–awaited unwinding of the heavily loss–making arm will bring to an end a four–year joint venture, and will see Concert's assets divided between the pair.

BT chief executive Sir Peter Bonfield said: "Since Concert was conceived as an international venture, the global marketplace in our sector has changed out of all recognition and we need to change with it.

"Clearly there will be substantial costs associated with an unwind but this solution gives BT a better way forward than the status quo."

He said the priority now was to eliminate the losses in its returned business.

BT said of the 2,300 jobs to be lost, between 800 and 1,000 would be in the UK –

mainly sales and customer service roles.

The cuts will be spread around the country, BT said.

The Concert venture overall employs 6,300 staff – 2,200 of which are in the UK, while a number are in the US.

BT said talks were under way with the relevant works councils, employee representatives and trade unions.