Jobs saved as insurance giant agrees to take over lease of Ageas call centre

The Ageas office in Stoke-on-Trent

Insurance giant Atlanta Group has swooped in to save the jobs of more than 200 Ageas staff after agreeing to take over the lease of the company’s Stoke office ahead of its planned closure next summer.

Ageas announced the closure of the Trentham Lakes site earlier this year as part of the reorganisation of its six sites in England.

The company said that the decision had been affected by the changing way consumers are buying insurance, including a reduction in customers wanting to buy insurance over the phone.

A total of 388 jobs were expected to be axed as part of the closure.

But now Atlanta Group, which owns Autonet, Carole Nash and Swinton, has stepped in and says it will provide an offer of employment to the majority of the 220 staff who work at the site in a phased programme beginning in September.

Job offers will be extended to staff at the centre which employs telephone advisors, web developers, insurance software specialists and numerous other support roles.

The majority of employees who choose to accept Atlanta’s offer of employment will remain based at the site in Trentham Lakes.

They will be joining Atlanta Group which has 2,200 staff across six locations serving two million van, car, motorbike, home and small business insurance customers.

Atlanta Group CEO Ian Donaldson said: “As a business which began life in Stoke-on-Trent 20 years ago, we’re proud to be expanding in the area and hope to welcome as many new colleagues as possible into the Atlanta family.

“Having worked with Ageas for a number of years, and employed people from the business in the past, we know they have a high calibre of employees, experienced in both insurance and customer care. From our perspective, this arrangement is win-win; Atlanta can support those looking for employment when Ageas leaves Stoke; and the additional site and expertise further supports our growth plans”

Ageas chief customer officer, Ant Middle, said: “When we make a tough decision that affects our people we will always look for ways to help them with their onward employment. We’re really pleased to be able to offer an opportunity where our employees can choose to work with one of our trusted partners, maintaining their expertise in the insurance industry.”

Ageas will retain its offices in Eastleigh, Gloucester, Bournemouth Manchester and London.

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