HBOS bank has announced plans to recruit 1,500 staff over the next three
years to its Business Banking division.
The company, which was formed following the merger between the Bank of
Scotland and the Halifax, aims to break into the English small and medium-sized
enterprise market.
Its Business Banking department employs 5,000 people and has a third of the
Scottish SME market – compared to only 3 per cent in England.
More than 500 new business managers will be recruited along with about 400
directors, relationship managers and customer service and operational support
employees.
David Fisher, managing director of HR for Business Banking, said, "It
might be strange to see such a big recruitment drive after the events of 11
September. But we believe that the economy is not in that bad a state.
"SMEs have not been affected by any downturn in the economy – in fact
it is going well for SMEs."
When the two banks merged in September, 2,000 job losses where announced.
Fisher said that Business Banking would attempt to employ HSOB staff from other
areas of the business who faced redundancy.
