ONE of York's biggest employers could provide a lifeline to any Norwich Union Life staff affected by parent company Aviva's plan to shed 2,350 jobs.

Bosses at the Holgate Road-based CPP Card Protection Plan, which employs nearly 1,000 people, say they are "ready to interview" any staff made redundant from the insurance giant.

Norwich Union workers were left reeling yesterday after being told of job cuts under plans to "export" work to India.

Rob Miatt, CPP corporate communications manager, said today: "We don't want to benefit from Aviva's misfortune but if there is any impact on York, and York-based people are affected, then we would be happy to hear from them.

"With our continuing expansion we would want to hear from skilled or trained people across the disciplines.

"I have a number of Norwich Union policies and I am aware of its very high levels of customer service. That is why we know that if any of their staff come to us they will be extremely well trained and professional."

He added that there was no plan to move their call centre business to India. "This is our international headquarters and we have spent a great deal of time, money, effort and recruitment building it up into a centre of excellence. We have no intention of losing that."

Meanwhile, bosses at Norwich Union Life in York are insisting that it was unlikely, though possible, that some staff at York would have to be made redundant. Most would be given an opportunity to take on new roles or retrain. Natural turnover of staff would also play its part, but numbers affected have yet to be explored.

Norwich Union employees have expressed their shock at the announcement.

One said: "We all went in groups to see our managers who told us the news.

"Everybody is a bit shocked and annoyed that the work is going abroad. We are not being told much so we will just wait and see."

Updated: 10:39 Wednesday, December 03, 2003