Stricken bank Northern Rock will offer some of their administrative staff to other lenders in a bid to save some of the Newcastle firm’s jobs.
Northern Rock chairman Ron Sandler is thought to be looking at options that will allow their competitors to use the bank’s resources. As the bank boasts one of the best mortgage-processing systems in the UK, this plan is likely to appeal to a number of financial institutions.
News of these proposals pleased Mr Henderson, MP for Newcastle North, who said that the most important outcome of the Northern Rock disaster would be to keep as many jobs as possible. He said: I think the management have to look at all of the possible ways to keep as many people on as possible. This is certainly an interesting way of looking to do that. It is important for the city and the region – but most important to the people who work at the bank at the moment.”
Nick Brown, minister for the North, also expressed his support for the plans. He said: “To me this seems like a sensible idea and one that is worth further exploration.” However, officials from Northern Rock and Unite, the union representing the bank’s employees, refused to comment on the plans until they were more concrete.
Since the bank became troubled, Ron Sandler has continually refused to make any comment on job losses. In fact, in an interview with local paper, the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Sandler said that Rock employees should not necessarily be thinking about getting a new job at all.
Northern Rock is a major employer in the Newcastle area and has around 6,400 staff working at its head office in Gosforth, as well as in their offices in Sunderland and branches throughout the UK.
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