400 energy and council jobs to go

SCOTTISHPOWER is cutting 200 jobs throughout Scotland and England.

The energy giant, which has its headquarters in Glasgow, said it needs fewer staff after completing the move to a new contact handling system.

The jobs will be shed from five of its energy retail business departments, three of which are based in Glasgow and Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

A spokesman for ScottishPower said a voluntary redundancy scheme was opened up to staff yesterday.

He added that the company fully expects to meet its target without enforcing compulsory redundancies.

He said: ‘We have started discussions with the unions and employee representatives, and there will be opportunities for around 200 people to leave the retail business over the course of 2017.

‘We have always managed major change programmes through voluntary means. Our last similar programme was oversubscribed.’

An email sent to staff yesterday read: ‘We recognise that this is a personal decision for each individual and so we wanted to give everyone as much time as possible to consider their own individual circumstances.

‘Between management and the trade unions, we will endeavour to achieve this reduction by voluntary means.’

The accouncement came as Highland Council said it plans to make further staff cuts. Almost 400 workers took voluntary redundancy packages recently and it is understood the local authority plans to shed at least a further 200 jobs.

Councillors will be asked to approve a proposed scheme to make workforce reductions at the council meeting on Thursday.

A council spokesman said: ‘It is inevitable that a significant reduction in budgets will require the council to reduce the size of its workforce.

‘Highland Council remains committed to minimising the requirement for compulsory redundancies wherever possible,’

Council budget leader Bill Fernie said: ‘Consultation is taking place with trade union representatives.’