33 jobs cut at Friends Provident

It’s been confirmed 33 jobs have been lost at the Castletown headquarters of Friends Provident International.

Due to a restructure the company, which has been taken over by Aviva, says it is reducing its presence on the Isle of Man.

This, it says, is an effort to grow business in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Friends Provident is also withdrawing from the UK offshore market which includes the Island, Jersey and Guernsey for new business.

The changes will come into effect between now and the end of 2016 – affected staff will be offered other opportunities in the wider Aviva Group.