INSURANCE giant, Endsleigh, is to axe 30 jobs at its regional headquarters in Burnley, it was announced today.

The Burnley FC and English football league sponsor says the move is part of a 60 job cut-back at Burnley and its Cheltenham HQ, brought about by the transfer of back-up services to branch offices.

Endsleigh say the strategy, using state of the art computer technology, enable clients to receive a complete service at the point of sale with minimal referral to central support units like Burnley which presently has 100 employees.

A spokesman said the policy had resulted in greater efficiency and business growth at the most competitive time in the history of the insurance industry.

But he added that the strategy, which would be further developed in future, cut out the need for some staff at the regional centres.

He added that job losses would take place between May and August but the changes would have no bearing whatever on the company's sponsorship of Burnley FC or the league.

Endsleigh is one of the UK's largest retail insurance chains, with 140 branches, a £130 million turnover and some 900 staff nationwide.

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