Threat to 600 jobs as Fenton npower base placed 'under review'
SIX hundred jobs could be at risk after energy giant npower revealed it has put its Stoke-on-Trent base 'under review'.
The gas and electricity supplier is undertaking a major restructuring of its business which could see its offices in Fenton sold off.
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BASE: npower in Victoria Road, Fenton.
Staff say they have been told their jobs are being outsourced to a company based in India.
The office in Victoria Road deals with the administration of customer accounts.
Management at npower said negotiations were still at an early stage and could not give details on any possible redundancies.
Union officials are now in talks with npower bosses over how any changes could affect their members.
Richard Frost, from npower, said: "In the face of increasing external pressures on costs, we are reviewing the whole way we run our business.
"As part of this, we are looking at our property portfolio, including Stoke-on-Trent, but no decisions have yet been made."
One worker, who asked not to be named, said: "We've been told the site is due to be closed in the near future with duties being transferred abroad. Representatives of an Indian company are currently on the Stoke-on-Trent site and have been in discussions. We are naturally very worried about the future and management are refusing to comment."
npower has not given a time scale for the review and refused to comment on the possibility of the services moving to India.
MP for Stoke-on-Trent South Rob Flello today expressed his fears for the future of the site.
He said: "I was extremely disappointed to learn that npower is reviewing its Fenton site which could mean jobs being outsourced and up to 600 being lost.
"With unemployment still at an unacceptably high level companies like npower should be safeguarding jobs in the UK not shipping work abroad.
"I would urge npower to keep the Fenton site open and not put profits before people."
npower's review of its Fenton base comes after the company closed sites across the country, including an IT call centre in the West Midlands which employed nearly 300 people.
Kelvin Mawer, regional officer for Unite, said: "We are aware npower is looking at its portfolio of buildings and consolidating its operations.
"We are very concerned 600 jobs might be going in Stoke-on-Trent.
"We are looking into it and are contacting the directors of the site to find out exactly what the situation is.
"As a union we will be trying to maintain the jobs in the UK for our members and if there is a possibility of re-deployment then that will be discussed."
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by Stickortwist
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 11:46PM
“Economies emerging with India in the lead
Taking jobs from stoke is the last thing that we need
I wonder how much charity us Stokies can expect
When Cameron and his cronies leave this city wrecked
Just today 600 jobs reported under threat
Those emerging economies given ours jobs I bet
Industry is now no more, the pits & pots gone
1000 applications sent, the vacancy's just one
In a pickle the saying goes and pickled is what we are
Especially when jobs are sent to lands that are afar
The public sector spread so thin that services are no more
The NHS is critical there seems to be no cure
So how much more should we take, when and what is next
My job is on the line too and like many I am vexed
I think we know the future is not a pretty sight
Npower folk I say to you that for your jobs you fight
Our country's one of the richest and yet churches feed the poor
India has a space program but aid were giving more
Hatters spring to mind and they must bet our leaders
When we have no home or cash who the hell will feed us
Me van delarscot and your million pound useless board
Please can you explain to me why our demise is being ignored
If we want to spoil their plot we need a plan that works
From Npower to the council lets show them how it hurts
It's money that they understand it makes their pockets swell
Lets make stoke better so we can all feel safe and well
But my friends I shout aloud my words are simply this
fight for jobs and stop the cuts cause now it take the p**s”
by Stickortwist
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 9:58PM
“What will be will be”
by mrdoulton
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 7:07PM
“roob57- i just do if u cant work it out u need help”
by roob57
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 7:06PM
“Lets watch this space then.”
by mrdoulton
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 7:03PM
“roob57
don't take a brain surgeon to work why i know this does it
and the UNISON union who represent 40% of the workforce were never asked to comment.”
by roob57
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 6:34PM
“How do you know all these facts then mrdoulton?”
by smithystokie
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 5:38PM
“What utter rubbish from the Sentinel. They have based their story on rumours passed on from an employee. Get your facts right before running a front page story!”
by mrdoulton
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 5:13PM
“this piece of gutter journalism has not one shred of fact in it.
The facts are: it reviews it structure from time to time, as does ever large business in the city.
npower have closed a site in south staffs within this process but no other plans have been disclosed.
The sentinel source i bet is a disgruntled ex employee with an axe to grind and has lead 600 npower employees and this newspaper up the garden path.
The union quoted had 5 members out of 600+ people on site- so why ask them to comment.
All in all this article has succeeded to upset 600+ people when it it totally fact-less
All the sentinel have done is added 2+2 together and made 5- not covered your selves in glory have you sentinel.
I think the sentinel should say sorry for there scare mongering tommrrow and put the record straight.
Shoddy ill thought journalism”
by Anon_mow_cop
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 4:48PM
“No suprise with this story, Npower have always been a "cowboy" energy supplier with their "foot-in-the-door" tactics.David Cameron this week in India has raised the issue of data security issues in the Indian call-centre industry, that tells you everything.”
by Backdoored
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 2:40PM
“by anon_100
"Its not very funny that you have placed an advert for an Indian meal half way through the story, given what the story is about." -unquote.
Trying to curry favour with their regulars.”