HUNDREDS of jobs are to be created at one of Sussex’s biggest employers – but hundreds more could go at another.

Insurance broker Hastings Direct, which has already more than doubled in size in the last three years, will be taking on another 200 staff in 2013. And the Bexhill-based company’s chief executive, Gary Hoffman, said the business would continue to expand.

The positive news was balanced by uncertainty at American Express, where staff are braced for cuts amid news that 5,400 jobs will be cut internationally – 8.5% of its 63,500 workforce – and job losses at Jessops.

The credit card provider said most of the jobs would be lost in its travel business, which is being “fundamentally reinvented as a result of the digital revolution”.

The city’s largest private employer last night refused to rule out redundancies at its Brighton headquarters or give any specifics about how the restructuring would impact on jobs in the city.

A spokesman said: “There are many decisions which need to be finalised this year.

“We take any decisions about our employees very seriously and will provide support to affected employees at the appropriate times throughout the year.”

The news comes as work is completed on the company’s new 137ft tall European Service Centre building in Edward Street, Brighton.

About 3,000 people are expected to work in the new office, moving from the current Amex House office.

At Hastings Direct there are currently more than 1,400 employees.

Mr Hoffman said: “In recent years the business has grown rapidly from 300,000 customers in February 2009 to the over one million we serve today.

“We are already one of the largest employers in East Sussex, but we have ambitious plans to serve three million customers by 2020 and these 200 extra staff will help us realise this goal.”

For more information about the jobs visit www.hastingsdirect jobs.com, call 0117 915 0380 or email your CV to hastingsdirect@ resource-management.co.uk.