British Gas has launched a nationwide recruitment drive of 1,000 new roles. The new recruits will initially join British Gas's apprenticeship training programme.
The jobs are part of the investment British Gas is making in 'Smart' technologies to help homes and businesses reduce energy bills.

British Gas will take on the new recruits over the next two years, with the first 750 joining the company in the next 12months. All 1,000 new recruits will undertake the accredited British Gas apprenticeship training.

The new roles, based across Britain, are in addition to the 1,200 field based energy experts already recruited.

Smart Energy Experts help homes and businesses adopt and benefit from personalised advice and new 'Smart' technology, such as smart meters.

Earlier this month a study released by Oxford Economics and British Gas revealed that smart meters will bring £14bn of benefits to the British economy by 2030. As part of this, households will use less energy by having greater control and understanding of their energy use, helping them save around £65 per year.

New smart technology also paves the way for further innovations, like the recent launch of British Gas Remote Heating Control, to help make the 'Smart Energy Home' a reality for millions of homes in the UK.

British Gas Managing Director, Phil Bentley, said: ' British Gas' apprenticeship programme for Smart Energy Experts shows our commitment to growing the 'green economy'.'

Edward Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: 'I'm delighted that British Gas is taking on more apprentices to help their customers lower their bills by using energy more efficiently.

'The roll out of smart meters to homes and businesses is just one of the ways in which the Government is modernising the way we generate and use energy.

'It is great to see energy efficiency policy and innovation creating new job opportunities in the UK.'