Scots jobs axed as cheque company retreats to southern base

iPSL is to close its two sites north of the border at Edinburgh and Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire.

Other closures elsewhere will see the firm reduce its total number of locations across the UK to only those at Northampton and Milton Keynes in a move that will see the business almost halve its number of employees.

After staff were informed, Unite national officer Dominic Hook said it was “tragic news”.

Mr Hook said: “This consolidation strategy is deeply disappointing and the impact will be felt widely.

“This proposal will leave a workforce of just over 700 at iPSL which handles around 80 per cent of cheques issued in the UK each year.

“The tide of digitalisation across the financial services brings with it huge challenges as organisations have to adapt the way they work”.

He added: “The changing face of cheque processing, with new digital imaging, has brought considerable difficulties for this industry.

“Unite wants to see iPSL make the necessary investment through new technology to secure as many jobs as is possible.

“This news will be a bitter blow for iPSL colleagues and Unite has pressed the company to provide the workforce with support and guidance with two training programmes and outplacement support to be offered to staff.”

Unite said the plans, which are yet to be signed off by the board, will lead to site closures in Bootle, Bradford, Copley, Edinburgh Tweed House, Chelmsford, Clydebank and Camberley in 2018.