WHARF FACTOR
City can bank on 2500 new Barclays jobs
BARCLAYS announced plans yesterday to create up to 2500 jobs in Glasgow.
The bank are developing a campus on the south bank of the River Clyde to provide a base for their functions, technology and operations teams.
Barclays’ chief operating officer Paul Compton said the development was a “flagship project” for the bank.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added it would be “transformational” for Glasgow.
Barclays agreed to buy the Buchanan Wharf development from Drum Property Group and are working with them to finalise the design.
The campus will play “a pivotal role in the execution of Barclays’ long-term strategic priorities” and will be one of a small number of key global sites for the bank.
Once completed, it will be able to accommodate up to 2500 additional staff, doubling Barclays’ workforce in Scotland and making them one of Glasgow’s biggest commercial employers.
Scottish Enterprise have
provided £12.75million of grant funding for the project.
The funding agreement requires that at least 42 per cent of jobs be “high value” – and that at least 341 will be for disadvantaged workers or those who have a disability.
Sturgeon said: “This is a project that will be transformational for Glasgow, creating up to 2500 jobs in the heart of the city. The campus will strengthen Glasgow’s financial services sector and shows Scotland continues to be a highly attractive location for inward investment.
“I’m particularly pleased that as part of this investment, Barclays have committed to employing local people who often face barriers into work, including those with disabilities and young people.”
Compton said: “The Glasgow campus – alongside others in Whippany, New Jersey, and Pune, India – is part of a global strategy to create world-class facilities for our functions, technology and operations teams.
“This campus at Buchanan Wharf is a flagship project for the bank, which builds on Barclays’ long history in Scotland and clearly demonstrates our commitment to supporting the UK economy.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to deepen our close ties with local communities and academic institutions to attract and retain the very best talent.
“It will be somewhere that our colleagues are incredibly proud to work.”