HSBC Insurance Brokers has announced a plan to transfer its Bournemouth headquarters. Consequently, the operations could cease leaving 165 staff facing an uncertain future.
Staff will be individually briefed on their future, a relocation to Glasgow or new roles within the HSBC could be considered.
“HSBC decided to move from their offices at the top of the Triangle earlier this year causing staff a great deal of inconvenience.
“Then a few months later there was a handful of people made redundant and now the sell-off to AXA.
“We should have seen this coming.”
She added few people were hopeful of getting another job in insurance because of the sheer number of people that would all be looking for alternative work.
A statement from AXA said: “AXA Insurance can confirm it will be providing business insurance on behalf of HSBC from 1 January 2010.
“This business will transfer to AXA’s commercial operation in Glasgow from that date.
“AXA is discussing employment opportunities with HSBC employees and is hoping that some employees will decide to join the AXA team.
“Both AXA and HSBC will be working with all affected employees to ensure that they are fully supported during this unsettling time.”
And a statement from HSBC said: “HSBC Bank has entered into a 10-year partnership with AXA to offer business insurance to its small to medium-sized business customers from 1 January 2010.
“Under the partnership, AXA, the UK’s leading provider of insurance solutions, will provide insurance products for HSBC’s business banking and commercial customers.
“HSBC’s insurance brokers staff based in Bournemouth are being briefed today on the implications of the announcement and the longer term plans for the insurance broking business.”
