Almost half the Royal London staff facing redundancy have been given a clearer idea of when they will have to leave the Colchester insurance firm.

Three hundred employees from customer services and printing and stationery departments were briefed on Friday.

The first jobs will go on October 13.

It was revealed in May that these jobs would go.

A further 450 staff are also being made redundant - a decision announced last month - and discussions when their redundancy notices will be served have yet to be made.

But a statement explaining the redundancy timetable issued to employees said none would be served to the 450 before September 4, with no redundancies before November 25.

Royal London is transferring its 250-strong customer services division at Middleborough to Wilmslow in Cheshire in phases starting next month, aiming to move the whole department by the end of the year.

The statement, which was sent out to staff via e-mail after they had been briefed said redundancy notices for this group of staff will start with the new business and claims section from the end of August.

The printing and stationery operation and its 50 staff at Clarendon Way will close on November 10.

The redundancies - which will see the workforce slashed from 1,200 to 140 over two years - follow the company's £1.5 million acquisition of United Assurance in April.

A spokesman for Royal London said when staff were told their redundancy dates they would be able to use a specially set up resource centre to help them find new jobs.

The statement says a selection process is now underway for management whose jobs will stay in Colchester, while selection for non-management staff is starting today (Monday).

It continues: "One the selection process has finished, it will be clear where vacancies remain. These will be open to people who state they wish to be considered for redeployment. These vacancies will all be advertised and you will need to apply if you are interested."

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