Virgin Media O2 has officially opened its new multi-million pound North West headquarters in central Manchester, marking a significant expansion of its long-term commitment to the city and the wider region.
The new office on John Dalton Street, just off Deansgate, will house around 1,100 employees and is part of a wider strategy to invest in people, digital infrastructure and community inclusion in Greater Manchester.
The move follows a review of the company’s real estate footprint ahead of the expiry of its Wythenshawe office lease in early 2026. Virgin Media O2 has signed a 10-year deal with Iceland, a carbon neutral workspace being developed by joint venture partners HBD (part of Henry Boot plc) and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, taking around 50 per cent of the new building.
Teams moving to the new headquarters include Virgin Media O2’s diverse customer service teams, providing specialist and tailored support to customers, including those dealing with complex and sensitive cases such as bereavement and support for vulnerable people. The new space was designed to support collaboration while aligning with the company’s flexible work policies.
In addition to the new headquarters, Virgin Media O2 has continued to invest heavily in the region’s digital infrastructure. Over the last 12 months the company has upgraded its 4G and 5G mobile network across 65 sites across Greater Manchester, including the deployment of high capacity small cells in the busy city center.
As a result, people and businesses in more than 14,000 postcodes across the region now benefit from improved mobile connectivity. These upgrades are part of O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan, which will see around £700 million invested this year to future-proof the national mobile network.
The operator has also invested more than £100 million in recent years to expand and modernize its ultra-fast broadband network in Greater Manchester. Almost one million homes and businesses across the city region can now access Virgin Media O2’s gigabit broadband services, strengthening Manchester’s position as the UK’s leading digital economy.
Virgin Media O2’s investment extends beyond infrastructure to digital integration initiatives. Through its partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the company has committed to donating an additional 1,000 refurbished smartphones to people who cannot afford access to digital devices through the Greater Manchester Tech Fund.
The initiative is part of Virgin Media O2’s wider pledge to donate 12,000 devices from its supply chain in 2025. The program, founded by Virgin Media O2 and the Good Things Foundation and running through the Community Calling Partnership with environmental organization Hubbub and the National Databank, has already delivered more than 26,000 smartphones to a new site across the country.
Rob Orr, chief operating officer at Virgin Media O2, said the new headquarters underlined the company’s confidence in Manchester and the North West.
“Manchester is a thriving hub of innovation and creativity and we are proud to deepen our connection to the region with this significant investment,” he said. “Our new headquarters in the North West in Iceland will provide our employees with a modern, sustainable space to collaborate and deliver customer services, while our ongoing upgrades to mobile and broadband networks will ensure Greater Manchester remains at the forefront of digital advancements.”
“These investments reflect our long-term vision to support local communities, drive the digital economy and create a future-ready network for all.”
The opening of the Manchester headquarters cements Virgin Media O2’s role as a key employer and digital investor in the region, combining physical presence with sustained investment in connectivity, skills and inclusion.
