Industrial agents latest victims of job cuts

Several senior industrial property agents in the North West are being laid off as redundancies continue to shake the property community.

Alastair Newman, partner at King Sturge in Liverpool, was the most senior of 13 North West staff across all departments to leave the firm at the end of January.

Colin Chivers, director in Jones Lang LaSalle's Manchester office, is understood to be in consultation over his future.

Damien Gibbs, senior surveyor at DTZ in Manchester, is also believed to be in talks over his position.

Commenting on the cuts at King Sturge, David Lathwood, partner in charge of the North West, said: "This was the very very last resort and unlike a lot of our competitors we have left it late. But the reality is that the occupational market has gone through massive change and we have got to reflect that in our business."

King Sturge now employs 100 people in Manchester and 5 in Liverpool.

In a statement, JLL said: "Jones Lang LaSalle confirmed at the end of last year that it was making 30 to 40 roles redundant in the English business. This is in addition to the 85 redundancies we announced at the end of October 2008. This difficult but necessary decision has been taken as part of Jones Lang LaSalle's continuing strategic cost reduction exercise, designed to best position the firm in what will be a challenging year. Jones Lang LaSalle continues to consider redeployment opportunities for staff and also continues to seek to provide any necessary support to those affected."

No one was available at DTZ to comment.

Meanwhile, staff in the 30-strong Manchester office of Cushman & Wakefield are expected to hear on Friday whether they will be among 80 planned job losses nationwide.