The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Financial Services Financial And Insurance Activities Insurance, Reinsurance And Pension Funding, Except Compulsory Social Security 65 - Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security
321 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
25 July 2006
Employment effect (start)
25 July 2006
Foreseen end date
31 October 2006
Description
Hundreds of workers are to lose their jobs with the closure of a call centre in Liverpool. Insurer Norwich Union is shutting its customer service centre in Water Street with the loss of 321 jobs. Growth in online insurance sales and improved efficiency are behind the decision to relocate work to India, Glasgow and Sheffield.
The centre, which handles customer service calls for Norwich Union Direct, will close by the end of October. Managers say they will try to find jobs for staff at other offices but have warned they may all face redundancy.
Simon Machell, chief executive of Norwich Union Insurance, said: 'It is always a difficult decision to close any part of our operation with the resulting impact on people and jobs, but we have to remain competitive in a constantly changing market. We will do everything we can to provide support and where possible redeployment for the people affected, and to keep the number of compulsory redundancies as small as possible.'
In September 2004, Norwich Union announced it intended to create 7,000 jobs offshore by the end of 2007.
Sources
25 July 2006: BBC Website
Citation
Eurofound (2006), Norwich Union, Relocation in United Kingdom, factsheet number 63825, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/63825.
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