Aviva to close three sites in Manchester
Insurance Age reports that Aviva will be closing its offices in Stretford, Salford Quays and Manchester Albert Square in the Greater Manchester area, as well as reducing its presence in Exeter and Dorking, which will result in job losses.
According to the insurer it will be focusing its operations on a number of core locations in the UK following its takeover of Friends Life in December last year.
Aviva said in a statement, ‘Any role reductions which may occur as a result of Aviva’s integration with Friends Life will form part of the potential reduction of 1,500 roles we announced in January 2015.’
The firm said it intends to save in a number of areas, including simplifying the business and reducing property costs and added that its core locations in the UK would be Bristol, Norwich, Perth, Sheffield and York.
The statement read, ‘We appreciate this is disappointing and difficult news for some of our employees 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.’
It concluded, ‘The UK is an attractive insurance market and is critical to Aviva’s success. Today’s announcement is part of our long-term strategy to become more efficient and strengthen our position as the leader in our home market.’
