Together Energy saves several jobs following Newcastle firm closure

As administrators moved into Newcastle offices of Future Energy today (January 31), Scottish energy company Together Energy has stepped in with a last-minute deal to save 20 jobs.

All the staff at the Newcastle firm faced redundancy until Together Energy constructed the plan to save the positions. Paul Richards, Together Energy’s chief executive, directed the takeover with Future Energy’s CEO, David Stroud and the administrators.

Paul Richards said: “We believe that by taking on all of the team at Future Energy our business in Scotland can have a new bigger future through expansion into North East and Yorkshire.

“Not only will we secure the future of all the staff but we will also pay our new colleagues the Living Wage, which represents a 20 per cent increase on their former earnings. We have also ensured everyone will get paid their January salary.”

One Future Energy employee, Debra Smith, from Sunderland, was recently faced with news that she would be getting made redundant.

She said: “This morning, Paul from Together Energy came in after the administrators and offered us permanent positions.

“I’m in total disbelief at the moment, and can’t believe this has happened. We are all so happy and so relieved.”

After the firm ceased trading last week, industry watchdog Ofgem selected Green Star Energy to take over the customers of the Newcastle-based firm which did not include taking on the staff at Future Energy.