Hundreds of HR jobs are under threat at British Gas after its owners announced plans to slash another 800 back-office roles by the end of the year.
Parent company Centrica said in its half-year report that it would cut an extra 300 jobs at British Gas over the next four months – on top of the 500 it already had planned.
All 800 jobs will be from back-office functions as Centrica continues its drive to streamline the utility.
“These will be from back-office departments such as information services and HR,” said a spokesman. “They will all be UK jobs, but some will be natural attrition.”
Centrica has introduced a £430m computer billing system at British Gas in a bid to increase efficiency. About 1,000 jobs have already been shed this year. The total for 2007 is expected to be 1,800.
“In the first half [of 2007], management’s rigorous approach to efficiency and cost control continued,” said Centrica chairman Roger Carr in the report.
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“Headcount in the UK has been reduced by more than 1,000 and British Gas is part way through its restructuring programme designed to increase control and accountability, and deliver a significant reduction in its operating cost base.”
British Gas made a £533m operating profit in the first half of 2007 due to a sharp drop in the price it paid for energy. This compared with a £143m loss last year.
