Insurance firm creates 100 new jobs in Yorkshire
AN insurance business is to create more than 100 new jobs in Yorkshire after investing £1.4m to launch its first operation outside London.
Union Insurance, which offers insurance protection to members of trade unions such as Unison, Unite, Usdaw and the GMB, has acquired a 14,000 sq ft building at Wakefield 41 Business Park, which it will use as a new call centre.
Managing director Dan Harrison said: “We have been established in London since 2000 and have built up a successful call centre employing around 125 staff. However, it’s difficult to grow our business any further in the capital because of escalating costs, so we wanted a base somewhere else to complement it.”
Union received a grant of £100,000 from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s Business Growth Programme, which is supported by the government’s Regional Growth Fund.
Harrison added: “We’re really excited about the opportunities this move has given our business.”
Roger Marsh, chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: “It’s always really pleasing to see organisations look outside the capital to invest and plan for their futures so we’re obviously delighted to support Union Insurance and help to create jobs in the city region. Union Insurance is a growing company and we have every confidence that this investment will see the business expand in Wakefield.
“Following our Local Growth Deal announcement, we are delighted that a further £18m is added to the Business Growth Programme fund to help support businesses like Union Insurance invest in the city region and ensure we cement our position as an economic powerhouse in the north.”
Coun Denise Jeffery, deputy leader of Wakefield Council, said: “We have been delighted to support another new business to open up in Wakefield. Our district is ideally placed for companies wanting to expand outside of the capital but maintain access to great transport links around the country.
“I’m sure Union Insurance will be a fantastic asset to the district, creating a wide variety of jobs and joining a growing number of big names which see Wakefield as a great place from which to operate.”
