Avis has confirmed that it is closing its regional offices in Birmingham and Manchester as part of an on-going cost cutting programme.

Operations from the two offices will be moved to the rental giant’s retail outlets in the cities.

A consultation process at Avis is looking at where the company can reduce costs.

While these will not affect its customer operations, they will lead to staff reductions and further possible office closures.

“The UK is a particularly tough market,” said Hilary White, of Avis Europe, which controls the wholly-owned UK operation.

“We have had to look at our cost base with a view to finding further cost reductions.”

These, she said, included streamlining and simplifying the company’s administration operations.

“But there will be no difference to the front-line operations,” she said, adding that job loses during the cost cutting process would “not be significant”.

The company’s confirmation of the closure of its two regional offices follows the closure of its Manchester call centre last year.