Around 200 North East jobs are being created by a pair of fast-growing energy businesses which are revealing expansion plans in lockdown.
Global energy procurement specialist Northern Gas and Power is creating 150 jobs and taking four floors at Gateshead’s flagship new office development, the £13m Riga building, while energy consultancy has unveiled 50 new posts across its Sunderland and South Shields bases.
The new jobs provide a welcome boost for both firms, which have seen rapid growth in recent years.
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Northern Gas and Power, which was crowned the North East’s fasting growing company 2019 in The Journal-backed Fastest 50, will create the 150 roles after taking more than 30,000sq ft of space in the six-storey Riga building in Gateshead’s Baltic Quarter, close to its existing Baltic Place offices.
The recruitment process for the new jobs, which include energy consultants, customer service, training and technical roles aim to help the business reach its next level of growth, with the first occupants expected to move into the new offices by September.
A £150,000 grant from the North East LEP’s Energy for Growth Fund, which is supported by funds from the Government’s Local Growth Fund via the North East LEP, has backed the project.
Northern Gas and Power is part of the Global Procurement Group, which currently employs around 550 people and is aiming to increase that figure to 700 by the end of the year, while also taking its turnover past the £49m mark.
The business was founded in South Shields in 2012 by CEO Fokhrul Islam, and alongside its 海角视频 offices in Gateshead, Newcastle and Leeds, it also has bases in the US, France, Malta and India.
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It provides a variety of different sized businesses with specialist services in energy procurement, energy management and real-time energy analysis that enables them to respond instantly and cut both costs and carbon emissions.
Group finance director Chris Baty said: “We remain very proud of our North East roots and have exciting and ambitious growth plans here in Gateshead, taking a substantial space in the new Riga building, close to our current waterfront HQ. We are creating hundreds of jobs to continue this expansion, here regionally, but also right across the 海角视频 and our global territories - France, US, Malta and India.
“As for many businesses, navigating the Covid-19 pandemic has been challenging, but we responded quickly, protecting our people and supporting our customers and other businesses, and we are in the fortunate position to now have a platform to build on for our next wave of expansion.”
Andrew Clark, energy programme lead at the North East LEP, said: “Our aim is to drive regional growth while delivering on national energy objectives at scale. Northern Gas and Power is a great example of how this sector is creating more and better jobs and adds to our expanding asset base. It’s a pleasure to be able to help the team realise their ambitious plans.”
Peter Udall, strategic director economy innovation and growth at Gateshead Council, said: “We’re delighted that Northern Gas and Power continue to show commitment to Gateshead by taking four floors at Riga, our new Grade A office block.
“The council invested £13m to build Riga speculatively, demonstrating the confidence we have in Baltic Quarter and the wider Gateshead Quays area. The building is now 100% let before the doors have opened and to have major North East employer NGP on board, who are creating an additional 150 jobs, is fantastic especially during these difficult times.”
Michael Cantwell, head of corporate finance at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, worked with the Northern Gas and Power management team to help secure the funding, and Chris Anderson, partner in the commercial property team at Hay & Kilner Law Firm, advised on the Riga building deal.
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Meanwhile, the Green Energy Advice Bureau, which specialises in the procurement of business energy, is looking for 50 sales staff following the recent reopening of its offices.
The energy industry has been hit significantly with redundancies at British Gas, Ovo Energy and BP, but the bureau continues to grow and is looking to fill a raft of roles at its Sunderland HQ and South Shields premises.
Managing director Paul Cobb said: “We are looking for dedicated sales staff who are looking to further develop their career. We have the tools to help you succeed and achieve your goals, the opportunities are there.”
“It’s fantastic being back in the office and being back in this environment. Everyone has adapted well with the changes and productivity is better than ever.”