Orchard Energy creates 30 jobs with new Elland call centre

Orchard Energy, the West Yorkshire-based energy management specialist, has launched a new call centre at its head office in Elland, creating 30 new jobs.

Providor, Orchard Energy’s new sister company, recently won a five-year contract with one of the big six energy companies to provide smart meter services. Orchard Energy will deliver the UK-wide smart meter telesales services from its new call centre based at Orchard House in Elland.

The call centre will be open six days a week and support a government legislation which will see all homes installed with smart meters by 2020. Orchard’s remit will be to contact customers and arrange for an engineer to come and install smart meters in their homes.

The call centre has already created 30 new jobs and Orchard Energy is currently in the process of recruiting to fill those roles. Its long-term plan is to establish a 60-strong team that will deliver smart meter telesales services nationwide for the next five years.

Nigel Sutcliffe and Laura Robinson have been promoted to team leaders of the new call centre. Both Nigel and Laura have been at Orchard for a number of years, Nigel having spent the last two years in Bureau Services and Laura as senior key account manager.

Helen Ekuase has also been appointed as the contact centre manager. Helen recently joined Orchard Energy to help establish the new centre and has lots of experience working in telesales, customer service and contact centre manager roles.

Gareth Henderson, Orchard Energy’s managing director, said: “This is a big move for Orchard Energy, as we take a step into the domestic market, which has always been part of our long-term expansion plans.

“We have a strong track record in telesales, and to be able to establish the new call centre at our head office will enable us to showcase our telesales expertise, as well as cross-sell our other products to a wider audience.

“It’s an exciting project and we are proud to be able to create more jobs for the local community, as well as contribute to the government’s roll out of smart meters across the domestic market, which will ultimately help homes across the UK save money on their energy.”