Insurer set to cut hundreds of jobs
HUNDREDS of jobs are set to go at insurance company Aviva, which is closing two of its sites in Greater Manchester and relocating a third.
The changes, which will impact 780 people working in the city centre, Stretford and Salford Quays, are a consequence of the company’s recent £5bn+ merger with rival Friends Life.
The changes will take effect by the end of 2016, the company said, adding it would try and redeploy staff “where possible”.
Aviva said it would be retaining a presence in the city centre, but did not specify the number of employees that will be retained.
The company said in a statement: “We have previously said that we expect to deliver approximately £225m of annual savings by the end of 2017 as a result of the Friends Life acquisition. Savings are expected to come from a number of areas, including simplifying the business and reducing property costs.
“As part of our proposals, we have today informed employees that we will exit our Salford Quays office by the end of 2016.
“In addition, we have announced that Aviva’s motor claims work carried out in our Stretford and Manchester Albert Square offices will move to Norwich by the end of December 2016.
“Aviva will continue to have a trading presence in Manchester and some employees based in Albert Square will move to a new city centre office.”
It added: “We appreciate this is disappointing and difficult news and we are helping our people through this process, providing a range of support and advice, and consulting with employee representative bodies about these changes.
“The changes will happen between now and the end of 2016 and we will look to minimise the impact by offering redeployment opportunities where possible.
“Any role reductions which may occur as a result of Aviva’s integration of Friends Life will form part of the potential reduction of 1,500 roles we announced in January 2015.”
The London company said it had selected Bristol, Norwich, Perth, Sheffield and York as its “core locations”. These sites will be supported by a number of specialist and trading sites, which include Liverpool and Manchester.
