AXA Provincial Insurance has opened its new Central Liability Claims Unit in Bolton town centre.

The new company, formed when UAP Provincial merged with AXA Insurance in January, has remained true to its Bolton roots.

The Provincial Fire Insurance Company, as it was originally known, was founded by local cotton baron James Scott in Acresfield, Bolton, in 1903.

After a spell in Hotel Street it transferred to Kendal in 1919, but always retained links with Bolton.

The Scott family sold Provincial Insurance to Union des Assurances de Paris (UAP) in 1994.

A building in Nelson Square, Bolton, occupied by Provincial for more than 20 years, became a customer service centre a couple of years later covering the north of England for the new company, UAP Provincial Insurance.

Reorganisation, which also involved taking space in the Sun Alliance building in nearby Bradshawgate, led to the Bolton staff increasing then by 50 to nearly 200.

Bolton's importance has been confirmed by the latest shake-up, which adds another 50 to the current workforce and brings the total up to around 300 people.

A national handling unit for liability claims forms part of the new company's restructuring and investment programme.

Some of the 50 staff it employs have been transferred from Kendal and Cardiff.

About a dozen new jobs are being created locally and there are currently five vacancies.

Axa Provincial Claims Manager Scott Balfour said: "We chose to locate our new Claims Unit in Bolton as we already have a strong presence in the town and know that the area has a strong workforce base with the skills we require."

"The Unit is a major part of our UK operation and we have the space in Provincial House to expand the office further should our business demand it."

Des Foley, assistant liability claims manager, is pictured (standing) in the new unit with Andrew Sharples, a senior claims administrator. F1546/9.

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