Hundreds of workers face uncertain future as BT confirms EE Doxford Park office faces closure

One member of staff who contacted the Echo confirmed that staff were given the news by bosses this afternoon before being sent home.

BT took over telecommunications company EE in 2016 in a £12.5m deal.

After being contacted by the Echo, BT chiefs confirmed the disappointing news.

A spokesperson said: “As part of BT’s ongoing strategy to optimise our office estate and unlock value as part of our modernisation programme, we are proposing to close our Doxford contact centre.

“This change will allow BT to continue to reinvest in spaces that better support our future ways of working and will provide our colleagues with a significantly improved work environment.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that “just over 460 people” work at the Doxford Park office.

BT chiefs said said they working closely with impacted members of staff currently based in Sunderland and stressed that “most colleagues” will have the opportunity to move to other “nearby locations”.

An employee who contacted the Echo but wished to remain anonymous said the current proposed closing date is October 31 (2026) and that proposed relocation of staff includes Darlington and Newcastle.

The BT spokesperson added: “We will continue to support all our colleagues at Doxford throughout these changes.”

EE serves 25 million customers across the UK, providing mobile and broadband coverage.

The company claims to have the UK’s most reliable network and were the first to launch 5G in 2019.

The news of the proposed closure is another blow to the city’s workforce. In January, Berghaus confirmed plans to relocate a number of its roles to its new hub in London, away from their current headquarters in Sunderland.

This follows on from over 100 employees in Sunderland losing their jobs after RSA Insurance group confirmed in October (2025) it was closing its More Than insurance site office in Doxford Park.