Sky staff ‘struggling to sleep’ over potential contact centre closure
Staff at Sky's customer service centre in Stockport are "struggling to sleep" after the company announced it was considering closing the site, a worker has said.
Sky shared proposals last week to close its centres in Stockport, Sheffield and Leeds central, saying it was part of its work "transforming" the business to "offer quicker, simpler, and more digital customer service."
But talk of closing the company's Stockport contact centre has left more than 500 workers facing uncertainty.
A member of staff at the site, who did not want their name published, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Sky's announcement has left many at the centre feeling "anxious and scared" about the future.
"We're heartbroken," they added. "Behind every role at risk is a person – someone with a family to support, a mortgage to pay, or children to care for.
"We're not just losing jobs. We're facing the loss of our stability, our routine, and our peace of mind.
"The stress this is causing can't be overstated. People are struggling to sleep. They're worried about how they'll afford their bills, how they'll find new childcare if they have to travel further, and what their future looks like."
Sky's customer service centre in Stockport is thought to employ a total of 545 people, from places around Greater Manchester and the north west.
The member of staff added: "This site has been a huge part of our lives – it's where we've made friendships, grown careers, and taken pride in what we do.
"We've always shown up for Sky, and for each other. We've worked through the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and countless changes – and we've done it with care, resilience, and professionalism.
"Right now, we just feel forgotten. This isn't just a business decision. It's a human one. And the cost to our mental health, our families, and our futures is real. We just want to be heard."
Sky's proposal to close the Stockport centre has led to concerns among the town's politicians, who have demanded an urgent meeting to clarify the situation.
Group leaders at Stockport council signed an open letter addressed to Sky last week, expressing 'deep concern and disappointment' over the move.
"It seems really regressive that Sky would choose to do this, and of course I don't know Sheffield or Leeds as well as I know Stockport, but it's a hammer blow to those communities," said Stockport MP Navendu Mishra.
Mr Mishra said Sky has agreed to a meeting with him, and that he will use the opportunity to urge the company to rethink the proposal.
"My first priority is to fight for jobs in Stockport, so I'll be doing my best to see if they will reverse the decision, but of course it is a private business and it can be challenging," he added.
"There are people from places such as Brinnington and the Heatons who work there, but it's not just Stockport, there are people that come from across Greater Manchester and the north west too, there's 545 jobs which is a lot."
Stockport council leader Mark Hunter questioned Sky's plan to leave the town while a £1bn regeneration project is taking place, which has delivered huge upgrades such as a £135m transport interchange, alongside new homes and offices – with more plans on the way.
Cllr Hunter said the council is urging Sky to remain in Stockport.
"The potential here is self-evident and well-known, I don't think we've a point to prove about the success of Stockport," he added.
"I think this is a decision being taken by a multinational company that frankly are not that bothered about where their facilities are, and are driven by nothing other than the bottom line.
"But despite all that we will do everything we possibly can to get them to think again.
"I raised this issue at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Friday morning, and asked for Andy Burnham's assistance with it as well, so he's going to send a letter of support for the council and has offered to be involved in any meeting with Sky, so we're currently trying to fix that up.
"We're keen to have his support as mayor of Greater Manchester, not all of these people will live in Stockport, they will come from a wider area."
A Sky spokesperson said: "We're transforming our business to deliver quicker, simpler, and more digital customer service.
"Our customers increasingly want choice, to speak to us on the phone when they need us most and the ease of managing everyday tasks digitally.
"We're investing in a new centre of excellence for customer service, alongside cutting-edge digital technology to make our service seamless, reliable, and available 24/7.
"This is about building a future-ready Sky that continues to put our customers and their needs first."
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