Centrica plans overhaul in 1300-job cut proposals

British Gas owner Centrica plans to axe 800 jobs on top of 500 previously announced cuts in a bid to overhaul customer service and support teams.

The energy supplier said about 1300 reductions would take place over two years.

Proposals involve the loss of about 500 contact-based jobs in its customer operations team, alongside cuts to offshore outsource support jobs.

Centrica said some of the cuts involve natural attrition, adding the moves come amid average customer calls falling by 20 per cent year-on-year.

Chris O’Shea, chief executive, said: “We’re creating an awful lot of jobs, we are growing, but we’ve got to reflect the changes in customer behaviour and we’ve got to give customers what they want.

“It’s a sensitive time when people are leaving your organisation, but we’re working with our trade unions and colleagues to do this in the best way possible.”

A Centrica spokesperson added: “We have been transforming the business for a number of years to ensure we have the right roles in the right places for the future.

“This means making changes to improve efficiency, drive commercial performance and give our customers the service they want.”

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