TWENTY Liberty Insurance jobs are to go in Enniskillen, with a further 250 voluntary redundancies to across its Cavan and Dublin offices over the next 18 months.

Liberty's Fermanagh contact centre which employs 210 will be transferred to a third party customer service management provider.

The company says that the transfer of the Enniskillen call centre "could potentially lead to further growth opportunities." Details of these plans will be announced once a preferred partner is agreed and contracts finalised. It is understood that the tendering process is at an advanced stage and once completed, staff will move onto a contract with the new provider with one year's protection on the same terms.

It is understood that 115 voluntary redundancies will be in Cavan (where many Fermanagh people are employed).

Staff in Enniskillen, Cavan, Dublin were briefed by management this morning.

The announcement follows a strategic review and Liberty's withdrawal from the personal motor insurance market in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

"Subject to approval, customer management of current policy holders in Northern Ireland will be transferred on renewal to LMI subsidiary, Hughes Insurance Services Limited," a spokesman states.

Luis Bonell, President, Liberty International commented; “Liberty Mutual remains fully committed to building a successful business in Ireland. In recent years, we have purchased the remaining minority stake in Liberty Insurance, announced the acquisition of Hughes Insurance and have continued to invest and create jobs in our Liberty IT division in both Dublin and Belfast. In the coming years, we will utilize Liberty’s global expertise and resources to support our businesses in Ireland to enable their development into leading players in their respective markets.” Tom McIlduff, Chief Executive, Liberty Insurance, said; “We have achieved a lot in our first few years in Ireland, having established a strong brand and grown our distribution network. However, the market is challenging and we have been loss making with an uncompetitive cost base. Withdrawing from the Great Britain market, focusing on Ireland and streamlining our operating model will enable us to strengthen our long term competitive position in Ireland in order to service our customers and brokers better.

“The plans we are announcing today reflect our commitment to retaining a contact centre at Enniskillen. We are examining options to transfer it to a third party operator which would preserve roles and potentially lead to future growth opportunities.” Following today’s employee briefings, management, employees and the employee representative body will work together during a consultation period which will last for 30 days.