‘Another huge blow for Cardiff ’ as Barclays cuts 200 jobs
BARCLAYS Bank is to axe 200 jobs in Cardiff, in the latest in a “worrying trend” of job losses in the city.
Barclays staff based in Cadarn House, Pontprennau, were yesterday told their roles will be cut or moved to Northampton or India.
The banking giant confirmed 205 roles will continue to operate from the south Wales site but 200 jobs would be moved elsewhere.
At the same time, it is understood 127 staff in Coventry were also told their jobs will be relocated.
Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens described the move as a devastating one for workers.
She said: “This is another huge blow for Cardiff, following the recent store announcement by House of Fraser. Financial services are a key employer in Cardiff and the loss of 200 jobs in the Pentwyn area of our city, where there a very few workplaces, will have a huge impact on people’s livelihoods and the local economy.
“I will be ensuring Barclays complies with its legal duties to consult with trade unions representing members at the centre and I will, as always, support any affected constituents.”
The announcement marks the latest in a string of job losses in the capital.
Last year saw 180 jobs cut at Barclays’ mortgage centre in Llanishen.
A further 1,110 posts were lost earlier this year, with the closure of Tesco House call centre in Maes-YCoed Road.
And earlier this month House of Fraser announced its decision to close its historic Cardiff Howell’s store, which employs around 340 people.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies said: “The news Barclays [is] set to move 200 posts out of Cardiff is a huge blow to staff and the wider sector.
“This is the latest example of a worrying trend of financial services leaving Wales’ capital city – with other sites elsewhere in the UK preferred.
“The Welsh Government need to take action to improve Cardiff and Wales’ position as an attractive proposition to the financial sector – and reverse this before the situation worsens.
“They must also ensure support is provided to those who will be affected by the decision – and assist them in finding alternative employment.”
Unite national officer Dominic Hook said: “Barclays Bank has decided to cut hundreds of jobs in Cardiff and Coventry with an unacceptable business rationale.
“The scale of this announcement means that many of the highly experienced and skilled staff in these workplaces have little prospect of redeployment within the bank.
“This will be a particularly bitter pill for the workforce in Cardiff as it follows a number of recent site closures in the region.
“By the time that these planned staff cuts are made, the Barclays Cardiff workforce will be a fraction of the size that it was five years ago, which will have a devastating impact on the Welsh economy.”
As a result of the company restructure, 171 roles from Merchant Services Operations will be relocating from the Avenue Industrial Estate to Northampton.
Another 13 jobs within the department will move to Noida, India.
A total of 11 roles from the bank’s Merchant Services Technology team based in Cardiff will be scrapped, three will be relocated to Northampton and five will be moved offshore to Pune, India.
Mike Britton, managing director of Barclays Partner Finance, said: “Barclays is working hard to meet customer needs and ensure the customer is at the heart of everything we do.
“Part of this work is to enable our colleagues to work together more effectively by bringing together teams currently separated by different locations, allowing them to work together side by side and build synergies between our operations and technology teams.”