Barclays to cut 410 IT jobs

A total of 158 permanent jobs are to go as part of the cutbacks, as well as around 250 temporary positions.

A bank spokeswoman said: "Barclays continually reviews its operations and resources so that it functions as efficiently as possible as business needs and customer requirements evolve.

"As part of this process, we have identified some aspects of our technology operations where the organisational structure impedes performance, and roles and responsibilities for colleagues are unclear. In some cases, roles are obsolete or being duplicated elsewhere within the bank.

"All of the roles affected are UK-based, principally in Cheshire and London. None of the roles are being off-shored.

"We will, of course, take all possible measures to mitigate compulsory redundancies through releasing contractors, closing vacancies and opening voluntary redundancy registers. Affected employees will be given the opportunity to apply for other roles within Barclays.

"We would work with the individuals affected and offer them one-to-one support to minimise the impact. Barclays has worked - and will continue to work - in partnership with Unite and has held regular meetings regarding the changes."

Trade union Unite's joint general secretary Derek Simpson described the job losses as a "serious loss to the UK's skill base".

He said: "410 job losses in the financial services sector will come as a bitter blow to the IT workforce across Barclays.

"At this time of economic uncertainty staff across the industry are working under immense pressure and there is a great deal of nervousness regarding their job security. This loss of 160 permanent and 250 contractors, all of which are highly skilled roles, is a serious loss to the UK’s skill base.

"Unite will be working with Barclays in order to avoid compulsory job losses and looking to explore all the opportunities for redeployment. Over the next few days Unite officials will be meeting with our members at all the sites impacted."