Dozens more jobs set to be axed at HomeServe
Dozens of jobs are set to go at Walsall-based household repairs group HomeServe.
It is understood that about 70 jobs will be lost at the company, which employs about 1,100 people at its Green Lane headquarters in Walsall.
But HomeServe has refused to confirm the number of roles being lost, only saying a “small number” are going.
A spokeswoman for the firm said: “We are currently in consultation with a small number of our UK back office teams, primarily within our marketing function, to discuss some potential changes to our structure.
"In addition, some managers are leaving HomeServe this week.
“We continually look at the way we are staffed to make sure we have the right number of people, with the right skills to support the service we deliver to customers.”
It comes after the company announced plans to cut almost 100 jobs this time last year.
The 98 jobs were described as ‘support’ roles, rather than repair engineers or call centre staff, and were planned across the Walsall, Preston and Banbury offices, where HomeServe employs about 1,800 of its 3,000-strong UK workforce.
Support
Walsall Council said that it will help anybody affected find new jobs through its Walsall Works programme.
A spokesman for the authority said: “We understand that HomeServe are in consultation with their staff to discuss changes to their structures, which will involve staff leaving their organisation.
“HomeServe is a well-respected and valued member of the Walsall business community.
"Should employees be affected by these changes our Walsall Works team will be happy to support their staff wherever possible into alternative employment.”
The company announced record profits less than a year ago.
In May it was said that customer numbers have remained stable in the UK, at about 2.2 million, while in the USA they soared by 20 per cent to 3.6 million.
It helped push group revenue up 15 per cent to almost £900 million for the financial year to the end of March last year, while pre-tax profits jumped 25 per cent to £123.3 million.
The company, which was founded in Walsall and sponsors the town’s football team, announced it signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation to establish a joint venture in Japan in February this year.
HomeServe Japan Corporation will be 50:50 owned by HomeServe and MC and will build a business to provide home emergency and repair services in electrics, plumbing, gas, heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
