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Pearl Group could axe 300 jobs

Private equity company, Pearl Group, is to close two of its branches forcing at least 300 staff to either relocate or face redundancy.

The firm is to close its branches in Glasgow, which employs 300, and Peterborough, which employs 180, to streamline the business at its Wythall office.
 
Graham Goddard, deputy general secretary of trade union Unite, said: "This is a slap in the face to a highly skilled and loyal work force."
 
A spokeswoman for Pearl Group was unable to confirm if HR staff would be affected, but said employees could re-apply for their jobs at Wythall, near Birmingham, or accept a redundancy package currently being negotiated with Unite.
 
She said: "Staff are not being made redundant, they are being relocated. Those who choose to move may be given a relocation allowance."