Somerfield to outsource IT department

Somerfield is reportedly planning to transfer nearly 120 IT jobs from its Bristol head office to a consultancy in India in a bid to reduce costs.

A Somerfield spokesperson told Bristol newspaper the Western Daily Press it was in talks with Indian IT company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), but had not signed a contract.

Some 141 IT staff work in the Whitchurch-based head office, 25 of which - mainly managers - are expected to stay on in Bristol to oversee operations.

An IT worker told the paper: “We are going to lose our jobs. It will put people’s lives in turmoil but the firm will save £2 million a year.”