123-reg the real issue

JayJay · Dec 3, 2006

Here is the real problem. I know someone who works at 123-reg which is based in Nottingham. Last month they were all told they were being made redundant in March unless they wanted to move to the new offices in London (130 miles away).

This is part of Pipex consolidating all the companies they have bought.

This is the whole Nottingham operation, all the accounts, support and technical stuff for WebFusion and 123-reg, over 100 people. Not many staff have decided to move so you can image the chaos, no one is motivated, but they are all hanging on for their redundancy payment which they won't get unless they stay around until the end of Feb.

From March everything will be done via London by people who have only been working for Pipex for a few weeks.

I already moved my domains to heart internet, I don't want to wait until it all falls apart.

olebean · Dec 3, 2006

JayJay said:
Here is the real problem. I know someone who works at 123-reg which is based in Nottingham. Last month they were all told they were being made redundant in March unless they wanted to move to the new offices in London (130 miles away).

This is part of Pipex consolidating all the companies they have bought.

This is the whole Nottingham operation, all the accounts, support and technical stuff for WebFusion and 123-reg, over 100 people. Not many staff have decided to move so you can image the chaos, no one is motivated, but they are all hanging on for their redundancy payment which they won't get unless they stay around until the end of Feb.

From March everything will be done via London by people who have only been working for Pipex for a few weeks.

I already moved my domains to heart internet, I don't want to wait until it all falls apart.

One would have assumed there would be a stock market announcement... Does anyone know (can't be bothered to look)

retired_member16 · Dec 3, 2006

Its not common to annouce office relocations, especially when its so few staff being moved.

olebean · Dec 3, 2006

firestars said:
Its not common to annouce office relocations, especially when its so few staff being moved.

That depends on the financial impact

retired_member16 · Dec 3, 2006

I would guess that the costs will be roughly the same as the benefits for the first 18 months, so no great news there.

olebean · Dec 3, 2006

i fear it may be true, their account for H1 suggest the adding of two facilities one in Germany 25000 square foot and a second which is coming online January ish 15000 square foot (in the UK)

Whois-Search · Dec 4, 2006

Maybe Heart Internet will "cotton on" to this and put out job offers to take on staff as they are also based in Nottingham.

I'm also transferring my domains to Heart Internet.......

One thing that does worry me though: the same web designer made both 123-reg (old site) and the Heart Internet one?

Also what happens if Pipex comes along and snaps up Heart Internet?

Maybe it's time to use my membership and tag and build my own register.

static · Dec 4, 2006

Wasn't Heart started by the two guys who started Webfusion in Nottingham in 1996 and then sold it to Pipex for GBP xx,xxx,xxx?

Paullas · Dec 4, 2006

are Heart Internet any good ? has anyone had any problems with them.

seanc · Dec 4, 2006

paullas said:
are Heart Internet any good ? has anyone had any problems with them.

so far so good..

the domain robot is a nice feature

weycresto · Dec 4, 2006

Not too many problems with Heart though some domains I transferred out a while back are still showing in the control panel and I still get renewals. Minor point really.

Not too much sympathy for 123-reg people. At least they were consulted over the move and consolidation of the business to London and have been offered job even if they are London based or failing that redundancy.

When the domain reg/web hosting outfit I worked for was taken over, the office was immediately closed (in fact within seconds of the announcement being made) and our job functions transferred without any consultation. 123-reg mob should consider themselves lucky they were taken over by Pipex.

weycresto · Dec 4, 2006

Whois-Search said:
Maybe Heart Internet will "cotton on" to this and put out job offers to take on staff as they are also based in Nottingham.

I'm also transferring my domains to Heart Internet.......

One thing that does worry me though: the same web designer made both 123-reg (old site) and the Heart Internet one?

Also what happens if Pipex comes along and snaps up Heart Internet?

Maybe it's time to use my membership and tag and build my own register.

There is some "common ancestry" between Heart Internet and 123-REG systems on account of the Webfusions "brothers" starting both. They left 123/Webfusion when the business was part of Host Europe in a boardroom tussle. You can't rule out further takeovers and acquisitions in this game.

retired_member6 · Dec 4, 2006

weycresto said:
There is some "common ancestry" between Heart Internet and 123-REG systems on account of the Webfusions "brothers" starting both. They left 123/Webfusion when the business was part of Host Europe in a boardroom tussle. You can't rule out further takeovers and acquisitions in this game.

Well you can if you own it yourself.

Jay Daley · Dec 4, 2006

static said:
Wasn't Heart started by the two guys who started Webfusion in Nottingham in 1996 and then sold it to Pipex for GBP xx,xxx,xxx?

Yes I think so.

weycresto · Dec 4, 2006

Almost right. Webfusion/123-Reg merged with "Magic Moments" and became Host Europe. Pipex then took over Host Europe, but the original Webfusion founders had already left to start up Heart by then.

hunkydorey · Dec 5, 2006

Pipex relocate

Hmm strange times when a company chooses to re-locate into Europe's Number one Terror Target and pay people London wages on such a low margin product.

Very odd indeed.

I'ts a poor decision.

Well to be honest I will sit tight as none of my domains renew for 12 months and by then they will probably have sorted any issues.

Ands I van be bothered to transfer 101 domains !

static · Dec 5, 2006

hunkydorey said:
Hmm strange times when a company chooses to re-locate into Europe's Number one Terror Target and pay people London wages on such a low margin product.

Very odd indeed.

I'ts a poor decision.

Well to be honest I will sit tight as none of my domains renew for 12 months and by then they will probably have sorted any issues.

Ands I van be bothered to transfer 101 domains !

Yes, a very odd move. In the history of business the web has to be THE medium that allows people to be 'anywhere' and still be able to deliver a good service to customers. London = higher costs, Nottingham = much lower costs. Pipex should be moving on mass to Nottingham. MAD.

retired_member16 · Dec 5, 2006

static said:
Yes, a very odd move. In the history of business the web has to be THE medium that allows people to be 'anywhere' and still be able to deliver a good service to customers. London = higher costs, Nottingham = much lower costs. Pipex should be moving on mass to Nottingham. MAD.

Nonsense. Pipex already have a large presence in London which no doubt has available floor space just perfect for filling.

Why run two offices when you can have 1?

Why put all your staff in Nottingham and your data centre on the Isle of Dogs?

olebean · Dec 5, 2006

firestars said:
Nonsense. Pipex already have a large presence in London which no doubt has available floor space just perfect for filling.

Why run two offices when you can have 1?

Why put all your staff in Nottingham and your data centre on the Isle of Dogs?

I wonder if they might buy UK2...

Fire have you even been to the Isle of dogs!! :lol: