Invoice finance specialist to close Liverpool waterfront office

Bibby Financial Services is closing its Liverpool offices which will inevitably result in a number of redundancies.

The business, part of Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group, said it cannot comment on how many jobs will be lost, but the waterfront offices at Princes Parade currently support 56 Bibby Financial Services staff.

Bibby Financial Services provides financial support to small and medium sized enterprises.

It was founded in 1982 and relocated its main function to Banbury, in Oxfordshire, in 2016. It has operations in more than 40 locations in 14 countries across Europe, Asia and North America and employs a total of 1,300 people.

It has 18 UK regional offices, employing 900 staff, including Warrington and Salford Quays.

A spokesperson for Bibby Financial Services said: “We are reshaping our business to position ourselves for sustainable growth.

“This includes reducing our geographical footprint, ensuring that we are located in the right places to support our clients.”

They added: “The proposed changes would result in the closure of our Princes Parade office and we are committed to working through this in a sensitive way.

“Redundancies are never something we take lightly and these proposals involve taking difficult decisions.

“We are currently consulting with impacted colleagues and, where feasible, those affected will be offered commensurate roles in other offices.”

They went on: “Our parent company, Bibby Line Group, will continue to be headquartered in Liverpool following its recent relocation to Walker House.

“Other Bibby Line Group subsidiaries based in Liverpool – including Bibby Marine and Bibby Distribution – are also unaffected by the proposed changes.

“Liverpool will remain an important priority for our business.

“The proposed changes reflect the need to adapt to a changing world, to remain competitive and to ensure that we continue to provide the level of service our clients expect.

“Whatever happens we will continue to support and fund clients in Liverpool and the rest of the North West.”

The Bibby Line Group was founded in 1807. Today it also includes the Costcutter convenience store chain and a logistics arm.

The group last year relocated from its Duke Street headquarters in Liverpool to Exchange Flags, next to Liverpool Town Hall.