AXED staff at a financial services firm are set to be offered a jobs lifeline by a rapidly-expanding East Lancashire business.

Telecoms company Daisy Group has held talks with bosses at Homeloan Management (HML) after it announced plans to quit the area.

HML’s Padiham office, which employs 271, will close in September, with 113 roles axed, and another 158 offered jobs at the company’s Skipton headquarters.

But Nelson-based Daisy, one of East Lancashire’s fastest-growing businesses, has almost 100 sales and call centre roles up for grabs which could help find alternative jobs for HML employees.

Clare Martin, Daisy’s HR director, said: “We have been in touch with HML’s HR department, who were very positive about the many job opportunities available at Daisy.

“We currently have 90 roles to fill, which is expected to increase when our new building opens in the summer.

“HML is, however, in a consultation phase, but has agreed to let Daisy’s recruitment team know when the time is right to visit any affected staff.”

Daisy, led by founder and chief executive Matthew Riley, offers telecoms and internet services to businesses.

Now stock-market listed, it has expanded rapidly and employs about 350 people at its Lomeshaye industrial estate base, which it is currently extending.

In contrast, HML, which looks after mortgages and loans on behalf of its clients, has suffered after finance firm GMAC took a key contract back in house.

That has left the Padiham office ‘under capacity’, prompting the move to shut it.

The talks were held after an intervention by East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Mike Damms.

He said: “Losing a company like HML, which offers high-quality jobs, was a grievous blow.

“However, the hope is that with companies like Daisy around, there will be a skills transfer.”

HML vowed to offer ‘extensive support’ to the workers made redundant.