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.
North West; Greater Manchester; Greater Manchester North
Location of affected unit(s)
Manchester
Sector
Financial Services Financial And Insurance Activities Financial Service Activities, Except Insurance And Pension Funding 64.9 - Other financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding
New offshoring locations
630 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
6 March 2007
Employment effect (start)
1 July 2007
Foreseen end date
Description
Credit Card firm Barclaycard is to close its Manchester call centre and move some of the work to India, with the loss of 630 jobs, it has announced. The firm's base at Peterloo House will shut in July 2007, with work moved to Mumbai and Delhi and to Teesside. The workers will be paid until October to help them find other work. The union Amicus said the closure was 'totally inappropriate' for such a profitable firm. Staff at the city centre' s Dickinson Street call centre were told about the closure on the morning of 7 March. Antony Jenkins, chief executive of Barclaycard, said: 'Decisions like these are never easy and we will be doing everything we can to support those affected.' Amicus official Steve Pantak said it had voiced its opposition to the moves. He said: 'At a time of increasing pressure on all staff in Barclaycard, we believe it to be totally inappropriate for this large and highly profitable employer to be announcing closures and job losses.' Mr Pantak said 'robust agreements' were in place to help staff find other jobs. The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said the cuts were a huge 'blow' to the city. Dr John Risk, the chamber's principal economic advisor, said: 'Barclaycard is a major employer in the area.' 'The workforce will be understandably shocked by the news. It is vital that they are offered help to find other work.'
Sources
6 March 2007: BBC News
Citation
Eurofound (2007), Barclaycard, Offshoring/Delocalisation in United Kingdom, factsheet number 65067, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/65067.
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