A new energy consultancy is set to create scores of new North East jobs after moving into its first office space.
National Utility Hub has signed up for 10,500 sq ft of first floor space within Q15 at Quorum Park, North Tyneside.
The firm, which sources gas and electricity prices for business across the 海角视频 while offering a range of power options and account management services, currently has 35 employees but aims to grow its workforce to more than 100 before the end of the year.
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The company was launched in March by Jonny Wood, who was one of 250 employees to be made redundant following the collapse of Hartlepool-based Utility Alliance.
A former operations director at the firm, he was initially contacted by other energy consultancies keen to snap him, but he was also contacted by investors at Monarch Partnership based in Surrey, who were keen to set up a new business.
As a result, National Utility Hub was established, with Mr Wood seeking out former colleagues to become the firm’s first employees, who have been working from home while new office space was secured.
The workforce moves into Q15 this week after Mr Wood secured a 10-year long lease amid ambitious plans for the fledgling firm.
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He said a large proportion of his former colleagues have found new jobs, but said he was keen to bring staff back to the industry if they have opted for jobs not suited for them, while also wanting to bring new people on board.
He said he had ambitious plans for the future and that he wanted to “refresh” the industry he has worked within for more than a decade.
Mr Wood said: “This week will be our first in the office and the staff can’t wait to get in. I’ve got some quite grand plans for the business and we want to recruit to around 100 people before the year is out.
“There are a few different arms to what we do compared to the standard energy consultancies we were working in before.
“A lot of employers ask for experience, and I get that they’d want that, but there is a lot of opportunity in this industry so we want to bring in newcomers as well as old faces. We want to get some fresh talent in. I don’t care if you’ve washed cars, worked at Greggs or River Island or in a contact centre - I would like to create the next batch of sales talent.
“I have been in the industry for more than a decade and not a lot has changed in that time, but this experience with the pandemic has affected a lot of people. It’s taught me a lot about how business can be done and how employment can be done.
“Quorum Park is the ideal location to accommodate our planned strategic growth and expansion.
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“It has everything we need to provide staff with a great, really accessible working environment together with the foundations to continue to develop a great career or start a fresh one. We’re really looking forward to moving in and getting started.”
The deal will see the growing operator join park neighbours including Concentrix, Tesco Bank, Greggs and Balfour Beatty. Despite the pandemic, the office park concluded 100,000 sq ft of new lettings in 2020, welcoming new occupiers such as Verisure, NRG and SSCL.
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Tony Wordsworth, director at Avison Young, joint agents for Quorum Park alongside Cushman & Wakefield, said: “This is another big letting for Quorum Park, which continues to appeal to forward thinking businesses looking to take advantage of quality, flexible commercial space with excellent amenities, parking and transport links for staff and visitors.”
Mark Rabinowitz, director at Shelborn Asset Management, added: “At Quorum Park we are working hard to meet the requirements of a post lockdown workforce with space that can be adapted as technology evolves and working patterns change.
“Modern day occupiers want their office space to reflect the ethos of their workforce rather than asking people to adapt to the building in which they work. We are incredibly happy to welcome National Utility Hub to Quorum Park and look forward to supporting them in their growth.”