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14/09/2006
Job losses in Belfast as Aviva restructure
A major restructuring by the parent company of insurance giant Norwich Union will see 100 redundancies in Belfast.
The UK's largest insurance company, Aviva, said it would axe 4,000 jobs at Norwich Union by 2008 to trim costs and streamline operations.
Norwich Union plans to reduce duplication and improve efficiency to deliver annual cost savings of £250 million in 2008 at a cost of £250 million by the end of 2007.
Aviva said that about half of the cuts would come through compulsory redundancies.
It added that up to 1,000 jobs would be shifted to India, and another 500 IT posts would be outsourced.
Group HR Director for Norwich Union, John Ainley commented on the loss: "We now sell 50 per cent of our motor policies online, over the internet, obviously as a result of that we need less people to take calls."
He said that there were 236 people employed by the company in Belfast and that the 100 jobs affected were in customer service areas.
Norwich Union Executive Chairman Patrick Snowball said the operational changes were necessary to reshape and simplify operations to meet the challenges of the changing insurance marketplace.
Mr Snowball commented: "We have to ensure that Norwich Union remains a highly efficient and successful company in what is an increasingly competitive and dynamic environment."
Aviva said the offshoring was part of earlier-announced plans to move 7,800 jobs overseas by the end of next year.
The company said it would seek to 'minimise the number of compulsory redundancies', but added that it needed to make difficult decisions if it wanted to safeguard future profitability and its industry position.
A spokesperson explained that staff affected by the latest job cuts would be offered retraining and the chance to move within the company.
(DS/SP)
The UK's largest insurance company, Aviva, said it would axe 4,000 jobs at Norwich Union by 2008 to trim costs and streamline operations.
Norwich Union plans to reduce duplication and improve efficiency to deliver annual cost savings of £250 million in 2008 at a cost of £250 million by the end of 2007.
Aviva said that about half of the cuts would come through compulsory redundancies.
It added that up to 1,000 jobs would be shifted to India, and another 500 IT posts would be outsourced.
Group HR Director for Norwich Union, John Ainley commented on the loss: "We now sell 50 per cent of our motor policies online, over the internet, obviously as a result of that we need less people to take calls."
He said that there were 236 people employed by the company in Belfast and that the 100 jobs affected were in customer service areas.
Norwich Union Executive Chairman Patrick Snowball said the operational changes were necessary to reshape and simplify operations to meet the challenges of the changing insurance marketplace.
Mr Snowball commented: "We have to ensure that Norwich Union remains a highly efficient and successful company in what is an increasingly competitive and dynamic environment."
Aviva said the offshoring was part of earlier-announced plans to move 7,800 jobs overseas by the end of next year.
The company said it would seek to 'minimise the number of compulsory redundancies', but added that it needed to make difficult decisions if it wanted to safeguard future profitability and its industry position.
A spokesperson explained that staff affected by the latest job cuts would be offered retraining and the chance to move within the company.
(DS/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:This morning will be dry and rather cloudy, a little brightness here and there. Remaining dry this afternoon but still often cloudy. Fresh to strong westerly winds. Mild. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:This evening will be dry. Then the rest of the night will be mainly dry and mostly cloudy, although rain may reach the north coast later. Windy. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
