Landmark £200m energy project brings 75 jobs to Newcastle

A £200m energy efficiency project has been launched by British Gas across nine North East local authorities.

The investment will create 75 new jobs regionally, as well as up to 500 further jobs in the local supply chain.

Based in Newcastle, the Warm Up North team will tackle fuel poverty, and will help to lower energy bills and make keeping warm more affordable for thousands of North East homes and businesses. Local small to medium-sized companies will be identified as contractors to complete the installation work.

Eligible residents could benefit from free measures that could be installed in their homes making them more efficient and reducing their energy consumption. Measures could include hard to treat cavity wall, solid wall and loft insulation, new ‘A-rated’ boilers, and boiler repairs.

The North East is the first region in the country to benefit from a scheme of this scale, as Warm Up North is the largest and most advanced regional response to the Government’s Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

The initiative will cover private and rented homes, and social housing as well as extending to publicly owned buildings, including offices, health and educational properties.

The Warm Up North partnership comprises of nine local authorities: Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Newcastle, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside and Sunderland and is supported by the Association of North East Councils (ANEC).

Jon Kershaw, head of Warm Up North, said: “Warm Up North will make a difference to up to 50,000 homes over the coming years. With the winter months approaching, now is the time to contact us free* on 0800 294 8073 to see how we can help. Warm Up North will provide advice and home improvements to those most in need.

“We are committed to helping those most in need across the North East heat their homes for less; a lot of people who are struggling to heat their homes may not even realise the difference that making small changes can make, for example, just insulating a loft could save up to £145 a year on heating bills.”

“We are also helping to create high quality new jobs throughout the region providing apprenticeships, training and skills opportunities, focusing especially on helping long-term unemployed and young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs).

“As we will be using local companies to undertake work on the ground, we are helping to set the foundations for further stimulus in the North East economy, providing work opportunities for local tradesmen.

“We’re very much looking forward to working with our nine partner local authorities to tackle fuel poverty, help reduce energy bills and make heating more affordable for homes and businesses operating in the area.”

Gateshead Council cabinet member for the environment, Cllr John McElroy said: “This is an example of the North East leading the way to help households reduce their energy bills and tackle fuel poverty. This scheme will make a real difference to thousands of families across the region, providing them with new opportunities to save money and make their house more comfortable in the winter months.”

Cllr Gerald Bell, cabinet member for investment and development at Newcastle City Council, added: “We are delighted to welcome another new private sector employer to the city who will bring business and employment opportunities and support the local economy. British Gas will be creating 75 much needed jobs for local people and providing a valuable service which will help lower fuel bills, tackle poverty and improve the energy efficiency of tens of thousands of homes in the city and the region.

“The City Council is working hard to support business, encourage growth and create investor confidence in the city as part of our working city agenda and the Warm Up North scheme, the largest of its kind in the country, is an important part of this strategy.”

To find out more about how Warm Up North could help make your home more energy efficient call the team on free* phone 0800 294 8073 or visit www.warmupnorth.com.

Local businesses who are interested in finding out more about the opportunities available working for British Gas on the Warm Up North scheme can attend a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event being held locally. To find out more visit www.warmupnorth.com.

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