Expansion brings 500 finance jobs

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A global financial services firm is to expand its Glasgow operation and create 500 jobs over three years.

Barclays Wealth said it is undergoing rapid expansion and is to open its fifth city office in the International Financial Services District.

The firm has been based in Glasgow since 1986 and has 1,200 employees.

Frank McGarahan, chief operating officer, said: "Barclays Wealth has had a strong presence in Glasgow. We are delighted to build on this success."

Mr McGarahan said Glasgow was extremely accessible with a high quality, highly educated workforce

The Scottish Executive provided £4.2m to fund the expansion.

Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said: "The creation of these new jobs presents hundreds of people with the opportunity to work in a quality customer relations management capacity."

More than 29,000 people work in the financial services sector in Glasgow.

Martin Togneri, chief executive of Scottish Development International, said: "Scotland's profile in world financial markets has been greatly enhanced this year thanks to increasing investments by blue chip companies such as Barclays."