ONE of Southampton’s biggest employers could be leaving the city – and moving 10 miles down the M27.

Bank HSBC has told staff that it is considering moving out of Southampton where it currently employs in the region of 1,000.

Staff working at Norwich House and Frobisher House have been told that a consultation has been launched to see whether the firm will move its call centre and support operations to another site in Hampshire.

The Daily Echo understands the company is looking at premises in Whiteley and is asking staff for their thoughts on how any potential move will affect them.

A spokesperson for the firm confirmed that a consultation had begun.

She said: “We are consulting with colleagues about a proposal to move from our current location to another site in the Solent area.”

The spokesman stressed that it was at a consultation stage and no decisions had been made.

Any move would be seen as a blow to Southampton with council bosses saying they are doing all they can to ensure the firm stays in the city.

Leader Cllr Simon Letts, pictured, said he understood the firm wanted to expand to bigger premises and suitable accommodation could not be found elsewhere in the city.

He said: “We are in conversation with them. We have done our level best to find them accommodation. The issue is a lack of the kind of quality employment space they require.

“They want to expand and there wasn’t a suitable building for their needs. We will have another go at it before they decide to go.”

It is understood that the consultation finishes in January with a possible decision made by the early summer.

A staff member who asked not to be named said: “Some of the workforce are concerned as it will mean quite a journey into work for them. It won’t be as convenient for some of the people I have spoken to for them to get into work if we should move from the centre of Southampton.”

As reported previously by the Daily Echo HSBC announced plans in September to close some of its branch offices and amalgamate them into one.

Customers were told that branches of HSBC at Southampton University, Shirley Road, London Road and High Street will close, with a new flagship branch due to open on Above Bar Street.