Barclays has announced 250 job cuts as it relocates staff to new ‘campus’ sites and closes a major processing centre in Leeds.

A spokesperson for the bank explained that around 340 roles were in scope for moves to collaborative working areas in Glasgow, Manchester and Northampton – resulting in net job losses of 50.

The other 200 job losses will come from the Millshaw Court office in Leeds, where the landlord’s decision to sell the site for residential development meant around 800 staff are being moved – with 270 relocating to Manchester and Sunderland, a further 100 within Leeds and the remaining circa 130 are not in scope.

Most of the job cuts at the Leeds processing centre are expected to have an impact on technology, operations and customer service staff.

“In order to drive collaboration, Barclays is moving teams closer together at our UK sites in Glasgow, Greater Manchester and Northampton; where we are investing in new campuses and office space,” a statement read. “This will enable us to innovate at pace for the customers and clients we serve – we will do everything we can to support colleagues impacted by the changes announced today, working closely with Unite.”

Unite, the recognised trade union in Barclays, expressed its alarm at the announcement, stating that for a long period it had been urging the bank to redeploy staff to an alternative office in Leeds when the current lease ends in 2021.

Dominic Hook, Unite national officer, said: “The sheer scale of the job cuts announced today by Barclays is alarming – the decision to close the major Barclays' site in Leeds will be devastating for the workforce and the local community.

“The union is working with Barclays to put into place every possible remedy to support the staff in finding suitable alternative employment and offering advice and support to assist colleagues, including redeployment wherever possible.”

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