Growing insurance firm Atlanta Group has reached a deal with Ageas in a move that will see up to 220 at-risk jobs saved.
Atlanta - which owns Swinton Insurance, Autonet and Carole Nash - is taking over the lease at Ageas' Stoke-on-Trent office and has agreed to offer employment to the majority of the 220 staff who work at the site.
Earlier this year, Ageas announced that its Stoke-on-Trent branch will close in June 2020 - axing 388 staff.
It also revealed plans to close its Portsmouth office, which employs around 200 people, while its offices in Eastleigh, Gloucester, Bournemouth, Manchester and London will remain open.
The firm said the move is in response to the trend of customers increasingly choosing to buy and service policies online.
But from September, Ageas' Stoke-on-Trent branch will be re-branded as Autonet and staff who choose to stay in employment will join Atlanta's 2,200-strong workforce.
Atlanta works across six locations and specialises in vehicle and small business insurance for more than two million policy-holders.
Atlanta Group CEO Ian Donaldson said: "As a business which began life in Stoke-on-Trent 20 years ago, we're proud to be expanding in the area and hope to welcome as many new colleagues as possible into the Atlanta family.
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“Having worked with Ageas for a number of years, and employed people from the business in the past, we know they have a high calibre of employees, experienced in both insurance and customer care.
"From our perspective, this arrangement is win-win; Atlanta can support those looking for employment when Ageas leaves Stoke; and the additional site and expertise further supports our growth plans."
The agreed proposition for Ageas staff - which is subject to final contract - offers them the opportunity for continued employment with Atlanta in addition to the already agreed redundancy packages.
Ageas Chief Customer Officer, Ant Middle said: “When we make a tough decision tha taffects our people we will always look for ways to help them with their onward employment.
"We’re really pleased to be able to offer an opportunity where our employees can choose to work with one of our trusted partners, maintaining their expertise in the insurance industry.”