About 100 Witham-based office workers face losing their jobs when their employer pulls out of the town.

Mercer Human Resource Consulting, the sister company of insurance giant Marsh, has announced its Witham-based pensions administration operation at Grove House, Newland Street, will close in May.

This will make about 100 positions "potentially redundant".

The work will be transferred to Mercer offices in other locations, including Brentwood, making use of new technology introduced by the firm across the UK.

Mercer employs more than 3,000 people at other offices nationwide.

The changes do not affect workers at Marsh, which continues to operate an office in Witham.

Paul Couchman, Mercer's head of administration practice, said the company had introduced new systems and processes to make it more competitive within the pensions industry. As a result, it needed fewer employees.

"The decision to close our operation was not taken lightly, and we regret the effect this will have on local employees."

Published Wednesday January 21, 2004

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