10 IN VIEW
CITY TAX JOBS BOOST AS HMRC STAYS PUT
Reversing an earlier decision that would have seen it move more than 1,000 jobs to Liverpool or Manchester, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that it now intends to stay in Preston.
The announcement is good news for more than 1,000 of its workers. The government agency had previously announced that it would close its transitional site in the city, at St Mark’s House and St Mary’s House, in 2025. Now it says Preston will be “retained as a long-term location in the North West”. HMRC is yet to determine whether its present base will be retained or if a new office will be established elsewhere in the city.
Announcing the decision, Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s deputy chief executive and second permanent secretary, said: “I am pleased to announce HMRC’s long-term commitment to keeping skilled jobs in Preston.
“This latest phase in HMRC’s Locations Strategy will enable colleagues based in Preston to stay and build their careers with HMRC.
“This supports the government’s plans to promote growth and job opportunities across the UK, so we can better serve our customers.”
HMRC currently has 1,400 full time equivalent staff in Preston. A further 11,800 roles are based in the North West, in Salford and Liverpool.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has welcomed the decision. It says Preston joins East Kilbride and Portsmouth in avoiding closure and means a fourth long-term HMRC site in the North West..
A spokesperson said: “PCS has from the onset been campaigning to
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defend members’ jobs in the face of HMRC’s massive office closure programme, ‘Building Our Future’.
“Whilst we’ve been able to avoid compulsory redundancies – except where compulsory terms have been more beneficial – the department’s closure programme has seen the loss of tens of thousands of years of revenue and customs experience.”
They added: “It’s still not clear where exactly in Preston members will be located; whether it will be in existing accommodation or an alternative site.
“PCS will be working hard to ensure that, now our members in Preston have security where their location is concerned; that the location in question is a decent place to work.”
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