19 Warrington jobs at risk, but chief Bell looking into other opportunities available
The head of THQ Digital Warrington - formerly Juice Games - has told Develop that 19 jobs at the studio are under threat as part of its new focus on digital games.
But he added that the studio and its parent are doing all they can to help staff that may be affected by the recent restructuring.
Last night THQ announced the creation of two new digital games studios out of its Juice Games and Rainbow studios, now called THQ Digital Warrington and THQ Digital Phoenix respectively.
As part of the strategy shift, THQ said 60 jobs were under threat.
Speaking to Develop, Warrington studio MD Colin Bell - who founded the outfit in 2003 - clarified how that impacted his staff.
He told us: "Clearly we’re going through a time of consultation with a number of our staff and I don’t want to pre-judge the outcome of that.
Advertisement
"Our studio is currently 65 strong, 32 roles are ‘at risk’ with 13 open positions so the net will be a loss to the studio could be around 19 staff.
"We’re going through that process now to see if there are other opportunities we’re missing, to see what other opportunities there are within THQ or whether those staff have ideas that we’ve missed out on. We will do everything we can to help those affected.
He added: "Right now is a tough time in the studio and our staff are first class and deserve respect.
"Beyond this period, though, we are very excited indeed about THQ’s commitment to the opportunities that focusing on digital will bring and the creativity that will be unlocked from the staff here. We’ve had a great deal of experience in racing and I’m sure we’ll see something based on those strengths coming from the studio at some point.
"But there are so many more ways which we can express ourselves using digital as a focus."
19 staff how convenient,
"A collective redundancy is one where 20 or more employees are to be dismissed as redundant within a 90-day period. Employers are under no legal obligation to inform and consult employee representatives in cases falling below that threshold. They may, however, be at risk of successful unfair dismissal claims if they fail to inform and consult individual employees who are to be dismissed."
You can bet it won't be 20, so you other guys are safe for 90 days.
The 19 the go, get jobs quick!!
