Firm is to power ahead with 40 new jobs despite the pandemic
Dozens of new jobs are set to be created by a utilities startup born out of a popular coworking hub.
Total BGS Energy, based at the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in Sunderland, has continued to grow and create jobs over the past 12 months, despite the turbulent economic conditions brought about by the pandemic.
Founded in 2019 by head of energy and siteworks Graham Davison, the company started life from the centre’s co-working hub, Open Space, before having to relocate three times in just under two years in order to house its growing team and adhere to social distancing measures.
The company – which specialises in the procurement of gas, water, card services and siteworks – now employs a team of 26 full-time members of staff, five of whom are based at the centre and 21 of whom work remotely across the UK.
Graham said: “Total BGS Energy was founded in 2019 to fill a gap in the market for small developer underground utility installations.
"However, while we knew we’d identified a gap that desperately needed filling, even we didn’t expect the company to be as big a success as it was in such a short space of time.
“Total BGS specialises in taking the stress out of utility procurement, be that electric, gas, water, card services or siteworks, and managing the entire end-to-end process for the customer, and our clients seem to have really bought into that ethos.
“Over the next 12 months, we aim to create another 40 jobs in management, energy services and administration and, while the majority of those roles will be for remote positions, we will also be expanding our team at the BIC as we continue investing in the region and our main head office.”
Donna Surtees, Centre Manager at BIC, added: “The BIC was set up to provide an environment that helps entrepreneurs realise their ambitions, be it from a temporary workspace in our coworking facility or relocating to a larger serviced workspace.
“To see Total BGS and Graham go from a one-man-band to a business creating scores of jobs and continuing to invest in the region, is a perfect example of this in action and we are proud to have been able to fulfil their needs and support their journey.”