A total of 180 jobs are to be axed at Lloyds Banking Group’s call centre in Warrington as part of 645 job losses across its operations.
The Warrington site, at Park House, Centre Park, is being shut as part of the group’s simplification programme set out in its 2011 strategic plan when 15,000 job losses were announced. The closure is expected to take place early next year.
Commenting on the job losses, Warrington South MP David Mowat (pictured) said: “It is very disappointing and a reminder that the majority of bank employees do not work in the city of London. I have spoken to Lloyds today and made clear that they should do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies at the Warrington site.”
Lloyds will make 180 redundancies, and transfer 120 staff to its offices in Speke’s Estuary House, Estuary Banks.
The bank explained the closure saying telephone banking call volumes were falling as digital banking usage continued to grow, and it was refocusing the business to reflect these changes in its customers’ habits.
A spokeswoman said: “As with any decision that affects our colleagues, this was a very difficult one to make. We will do everything we can to provide support for both our employees and the local community to manage this transition.
“We will work with our colleagues wherever possible to try to find suitable roles for them elsewhere within the group.
“We are also working with external employment agencies and setting up an on-site dedicated resource centre to provide additional support and opportunities for those colleagues whom we are unable to redeploy internally.”
Lloyds says its policy is to always use natural turnover and to redeploy people wherever possible. Where it is necessary for staff to leave the company it says it looks to achieve this by offering voluntary redundancy.
“Compulsory redundancies will always be a last resort.”
The Unite union says it will press Lloyds for a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
Today’s announcement takes Lloyds’ redundancies to 13,500 since it announced a total of 15,000 job losses in 2011.
Lloyds Banking Group axe 180 jobs in Warrington
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
