Financial services jobs BOOMING… ‘Despite Brexit’!

Barclays has unveiled plans to create upwards of 2,500 jobs at a new hub in Glasgow, in a major boost to Scotland’s financial services sector.

The bank will house its technology, functions and operations teams at a campus at the planned Buchanan Wharf development on the banks of the Clyde. Barclays says up to 5,000 staff will be based at the new Buchanan Wharf campus

Barclays said it would “play a pivotal role” in its “long-term strategic priorities”.

Scottish Enterprise is to provide a grant of £12.75m towards the project to help get it started.

Paul Lewis, from Scottish Enterprise, said: “This investment establishes Glasgow as a key global site for Barclays, providing a platform for growth whilst also securing existing operations in Scotland.

“It will breathe new life into a part of the city with huge potential and bring significant new jobs, including employment specifically for disadvantaged workers.”

The offer requires that at least 42% of the new jobs are of “high value”, with at least 341 posts made available for disadvantaged workers or those who have a disability.

The new development will make Barclays one of Glasgow’s largest commercial employers.

Chief officer at Barclays Paul Compton said: “The Glasgow campus, alongside others in Whippany, New Jersey, and Pune, India, is part of a global strategy to create world-class facilities for our functions, technology and operations teams.

“This new campus at Buchanan Wharf is a flagship project for the bank, which builds on Barclays’ long history in Scotland and clearly demonstrates our commitment to supporting the UK economy.”

Buchanan Wharf is a major mixed-use scheme currently being developed by Drum Property Group.

Drum managing director Graeme Bone said the project was “setting a new benchmark for large-scale development across Scotland. Our development will be one of Scotland’s largest single-site construction projects, bringing together over a million square feet of prime Grade A office space with residential accommodation, and an exciting mix of amenities and landscaped public spaces.”