Claydon centre set for jobs boost

EXTRA jobs are today on the horizon for a Claydon call centre after AA Insurance announced plans to purchase Suffolk-based insurance broker Direct Choice.

The AA has revealed plans to expand its new business after confirming that contracts had been exchanged for the purchase of Taylor Price and Co, the company which runs Direct Choice.

Ninety people work at Direct Choice's Claydon call centre, with the remainder of its 200 staff based at its Newmarket head office.

AA Insurance already employs 1,400 people at its head office in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and two call centres in Cardiff and Newcastle.

The company moved quickly to avoid fears of job cuts at Claydon by saying that rather than looking to streamline its operations AA Insurance wanted to expand the Suffolk operations.

A spokesman for AA Insurance said: “Whilst there was the opportunity to perhaps make some economies of scale, at Ipswich we have good, loyal staff, people who know the business well and do an extremely good job.

“It makes sense to keep them. The intention is to develop the business.”

Direct Choice co-partner Adrian Parry will remain as managing director of the new company, while senior partner Geoff Foster Taylor will stay with the business during the early days to assist with initial integration work.

Mr Parry said: “We're in a highly competitive market and the business will need significant investment to develop and maintain its unique position in the market. AA Insurance is the right partner to help us do just that.”

AA Insurance managing director Mr Sinclair said: “Direct Choice is ideal for us because it offers a different product range, business model and customer base that is largely complimentary to ours.”

WEBLINKS

www.directchoice.co.uk

www.theaa.com

Do you think the purchase is a good business opportunity for Suffolk? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk