Virgin Media O2 opens doors to new Manchester HQ as part of major investment in the region

• Virgin Media O2 has opened the doors to its new multi-million-pound, state of the art North West HQ on John Dalton Street just off Deans Gate. 
• New office will be home to approximately 1,100 staff and builds on operators long standing commitment to the city. 
• Over the past 12 months, Virgin Media O2 has upgraded its 4G and 5G mobile network in 65 sites across Greater Manchester, benefitting people in more than 14,000 postcodes in the area. 
• In recent years, the operator has invested more than £100m to expand its broadband network in the region, with nearly 1 million homes and businesses in Greater Manchester now able to benefit from its gigabit services.  
• Through its ongoing partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Virgin Media O2 has committed to donate a further 1,000 refurbished smartphones to those in need via the Greater Manchester Tech Fund.  

Virgin Media O2 has officially opened its new state-of-the-art North West HQ in central Manchester in a sign of its ongoing commitment to the city.  

With the lease of its Wythenshawe office due to expire in early 2026, Virgin Media O2 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 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.  

Virgin Media O2 is currently recruiting into the customer services team based in the new site, with additional roles set to go live next year, too. 

This multi-million-pound investment from Virgin Media O2 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.  

Major digital investment  

Alongside this long-term investment in a new office, 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 benefitting from stronger 4G and new 5G coverage as a result. 

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 1 million homes and businesses in Greater Manchester. These major investment figures underline the company’s commitment to backing the North West and its digital economy. 

Supporting local people to get online  

Through its ongoing partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Virgin Media O2 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. 

Rob Orr, Chief Operating Officer, Virgin Media O2, said: “Manchester is a thriving hub for innovation and creativity, and we’re proud to deepen our connection to the region with this significant investment. 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.” 

ENDS