BURY’S biggest private employer, O2, has been “engaged” in celebrating its perfect 10!

The company has been marking its first decade in the town with a week-long celebration. O2 now employs more than 1,200 staff at its base in Dumers Lane.

One of the 10th birthday highlights was a lunch for the 30-plus members of staff who have been working at the centre since it opened.

They received commemorative birthday cards from Cheryl Black, O2 UK’s director of customer service.

One of those celebrating was personal assistant Amanda O’Hare, who was the first person to answer a call at the site. “My heart skipped a beat with fear,” she remembers.

Also celebrating were eight members of the same family.

Laura Hobson met her husband, Will, at O2. Her mother, Carolyn, is a receptionist and cousin Sadie McNamara and Laura’s brother, Adam, also work there. Adam met his girlfriend, Claire Ivison, at O2. Laura’s mum, Carolyn, discovered she had a cousin in-law, Carol Hosker, who works in Tesco Mobile with her daughter, Lucy Hosker.

“We are all very proud of the part O2 has played in our lives,” said Laura.

Kind-hearted staff consistently support the local community and, last year, raised £29,000 for Bury Crossroads and Macmillan as part of the firm’s It’s Your Community activities.

Their efforts were recognised when O2 was named Community Business of the Year in the Call North West 2008 awards.

Sarah Sargent, head of O2 Bury, said: I’m proud of the people who work here. They are a committed team who work hard to give our customers a great experience. They have a wonderful spirit and are passionate about the local community.”

O2 in Bury began life as BT Cellnet, with staff currently working in O2 customer service and Tesco Mobile.