enga

Talk Talk

The Department of Education and Skills submitted an application on 29th February 2012 for EU co-financing under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to support 592 workers affected by redundancy in late 2011 at the Talk Talk call centre facility in Waterford and at three ancillary enterprises (AA Security Services, Noonan Services Group Ltd. and Campbell Catering trading as Aramark). The application was approved by the EU on the 25th October 2012 and provided a mix of training, education, enterprise support and upskilling interventions to eligible affected workers.

The application sought €5.4 million with 50% provided by the EU on the 6th of December 2012. The EGF programme ran from October 2011 until February 2014.

The co-ordination of EGF services for the Talk Talk workers was provided by the specialist SOLAS EGF Coordination Unit which has worked previously on the EGF programme for redundant Dell workers and Construction workers. The unit, which co-ordinated guidance supports with the Employment Services Office of the Department of Social Protection, had an office in Waterford City and was open for walk-in referrals. All eligible redundant workers were written to on 9th March 2012 in relation to the types of services currently available.

EGF programme measures provided to eligible affected workers included: – 

  • additional employment services supports and advice,
  • FÁS and VEC training courses,
  • a Certificate in Career Development and Skills enhancement and a bespoke accelerated Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science and GMP (Good Manufacturing Science) both at Waterford Institute of Technology, EGF training grants for study in private colleges and training organisations and
  • enterprise supports through local County and City Enterprise Boards.

In addition, an EGF contribution towards the expenses incurred in attending courses was introduced for the first time and assisted eligible redundant workers in meeting some of the basic costs (e.g. travel, subsistence and course materials) in accessing guidance, training and education courses.

Reports on the implementation of the Talk Talk EGF programme at end February, May, August and November 2013 and a labour market status update of the eligible cohort at March 2015 (13 months after programme end) are set out below:

Some 353 workers were provided with over 1,100 interventions under the EGF programme when it ended in February 2014.

Final figures on total EGF programme expenditure were submitted in an EGF final report to the European Commission on 28 August 2014. A copy of the final report is set out below.