Meter launch sees jobs created at British Gas

British Gas said today it was creating 2,600 new jobs as it prepares for the roll-out of new smart meter technology.

The announcement came as British Gas opened a new Energy Academy in Leicester, which will train the engineers responsible for installing the smart meters.

The creation of the new jobs is in addition to the 1,500 new green jobs the company announced earlier this year.

The Government announced plans in May for every household in Britain to have smart meters installed for gas and electricity by 2020. The moves were hailed as the biggest revolution in energy use since the 1970s.

British Gas is currently running the largest smart meter trial in the country, with almost 50,000 homes and businesses already using the new technology.

The 2,600 new jobs include 2,100 engineers who will work in the "field", as well as 400 supporting team members and 130 managerial staff.

Around 900 of the roles will be people who transfer to British Gas from other metering organisations.

As well as the site in Leicester, the company's Energy Academy runs training bases at Dartford, Thatcham, Leeds and Hamilton.

The meters are expected to give households greater control over energy use, as well as reduce carbon footprint and save money on fuel.

The company has invested £30 million a year in the academy, which was formed in 2003 and has trained more than 5,000 apprentice engineers.

British Gas said today's new jobs would be created by 2012.