SSE unveils South West regional office
SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy) is today officially opening its Bristol office at St Philips, as part of a £2.5 million investment and a pledge to provide 80 more jobs for the West Country.
The company’s newly refurbished office and warehouse complex in Victoria Terrace brings staff from four SSE offices in the Bristol area under one roof for the first time, including mechanical and electrical contractors, street lighting teams, meter readers, domestic engineers (electrical and gas Home Services), renewable energy staff, high voltage power engineers and administration staff.
Following a full office facelift including construction of a brand new warehouse, more than 400 staff now use this as their base.
The move has been prompted by expansion and projected future growth. As a key regional centre it will allow SSE to strengthen its presence in the Bristol area and towards the West Country, where it already boasts sites in Plymouth, Bodmin and Exeter.
In the past 12 months SSE has completed a number of substantial projects in the Bristol area, including a £2.5 million electrical and gas installation at Cabot Circus shopping centre and a £3.8 million project to install mechanical electrical systems and pipework to the award winning Constellation Europe bottling plant. A further £1 million has been spent providing the electrical infrastructure to three wind turbines at Bristol Port and the street lighting division is looking after 40,000 lights and traffic signs for Bristol City Council.
The office’s renewable energy division is working on projects in Wales and Devon, and the metering team is now working as far south as Taunton, servicing SSE’s growing customer base.
The Home Services business already has around 15,000 domestic maintenance customers in the South West Region. It anticipates significant growth in this sector as more householders become aware of gas and electrical services being offered from the Bristol office.
District contracts manager, Lee Hopson, said: “Our previous offices were outdated and no longer big enough to accommodate the workforce. We’re expecting to add around 65 people within the next two years, as well as a further 15 engineers appointed directly by the company’s head office. We’re already extending the scope and reach of our work further into the South West and some engineers will work as far south as the coast. Jobs are being created in most sectors of the business, and will include four new apprentices who are being recruited as we speak.”
Regional director, Simon Foyle, added: “We regard this office very much as an investment for the future, and as such it is our gateway to the South West, where we have a number of exciting new projects in the pipeline. Bringing people under one roof has created obvious efficiencies, and it is important to recognise the significant contribution from our staff, who are now enjoying an improved working environment.”
Up to 50 visitors are expected at the offices in Victoria Terrace today, to witness the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Christopher Davies, performing the official opening of the site alongside SSE Chief Executive, Ian Marchant, and members of the business community.
Staff will also be presenting a £2,000 cheque to their nominated charity, the Meningitis Trust, after being awarded for their outstanding safety record over the past year.
Guests will then be shown round the two-acre site and will have a chance to watch demonstrations and workshops illustrating the scope of the company’s work.
