Utilita Energy could save 100 jobs for Newcastle business

This week, Utilita Energy is expected to complete a rescue package to save around 100 jobs for a Newcastle call centre.

First Contact NE Limited (FCNE), of Gateway House, has been served with a petition by HMRC, putting jobs at risk.

Nearly all of the staff have been working on a telesales operation on behalf of Utilita, said to be one of Britain’s fastest growing independent energy suppliers.

Utilita says, despite the staff being FCNE employees, it feels it has a ‘moral obligation’ to step in and do all it can.

Utilita’s director of retail, Steve Parker, said: “These people - through no fault of their own - find themselves in a precarious position and we feel for them.

“We value them. They have contributed to Utilita’s growth and success, and this is why we quickly made the decision to see if we can help.

“We don’t have to do this, we want to. There are no guarantees, but we want to reassure FCNE’s staff that we are working hard on their behalf and will do our utmost to try and keep a viable operation going at Gateway House.”

Utilita Energy CEO Bill Bullen flew up to Newcastle late last night from Utilita’s Hampshire HQ to personally speak to staff this morning (April 30).

Utilita stepped into pay wages owed by FCNE on Friday afternoon and is working to continue to operate a call centre on the site under its Utilita Telesales arm.

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