Norwich Union has today announced plans to restructure its 34 claims locations across the UK.
Norwich Union has today announced plans to restructure its 34 claims locations across the UK.
The decision will see 11 claims centres expand and 11 close, with the other claims sites remaining at their current staff levels.
By providing more specialist advice and easier access to staff, the restructure – which is due to be completed by the end of 2003 – will build on Norwich Union's continuing commitment to deliver an efficient claims service. This will see claims centres develop core areas of expertise, such as household or motor.
As a result of the changes, there will be around 750 job losses, although the expansion of a number of locations will see 425 new jobs created. Where possible, staff will be found alternative roles within claims, other Norwich Union Insurance functions or elsewhere across the company.
Commenting on the restructure, Simon Machell, claims director, Norwich Union Insurance, said: “We have made significant improvements to the level of service we provide and we want to build on this further. By developing larger, more specialist sites, we can give brokers and customers easier access to better-trained staff, who will have a greater depth of expertise in dealing with claims.
“Any job losses are regrettable, but we believe these changes give our remaining staff longer-term stability and the opportunity to develop specialist skills. Our focus over the next 18 months is to invest in training and improved systems to further develop the claims sites into centres of expertise.
“We’ll be making these changes on a phased basis over the summer – which is our quietest time for claims notifications – to ensure there is minimal impact on service.”
The first phase of closures will take place by the end of September 2002, with the other sites closing by the end of 2003.
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Media contact: Liz Kennett/David Ross at Norwich Union on 08703 66 68 63
Notes to editors:
- The table below shows the changes to the claims structure:
Expanding claims centres
Maintained at current levels
Claims centres to be closed*
Exeter
Belfast
Basildon
Glasgow
Birmingham
Bristol
Manchester
Sheffield
Cheadle
Preston
Leicester
Chelmsford
Bradford
Southampton
Edinburgh
Cardiff
Norwich
Nottingham
Dundee
Worthing
Croydon
Southend
Perth
Leeds
Newcastle
Bishopbriggs
Liverpool
Northampton
Ipswich
Luton
*Other Norwich Union operations may exist in these locations but will remain unaffected by the restructure
- Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer. In general insurance it is more than 1.5 times the size of its nearest competitor, and has a 19 per cent share of the market.
- It has a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses. It insures:
- one in five households
- one in five motor vehicles
- more than 700,000 businesses
- Norwich Union products are available through a variety of distribution channels including brokers, corporate partners such as banks and building societies, and Norwich Union Direct.
- Norwich Union's news releases are available on this internet site
- A selection of images are available from the Norwich Union Newscast site at www.newscast.co.uk
- Norwich Union Insurance Limited Registered in England Number 99122 Registered Office 8 Surrey Street Norwich NR1 3TA
- Member of the CGNU group of companies and the General Insurance Standards Council
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