Clydebank firm saves 20 jobs in last minute take over deal

A small Clydebank firm has stepped in and saved the day by taking on the staff of a Newcastle business that went into administration earlier this month.

The 20 jobs at Future Energy faced redundancy until Together Energy put together a rescue deal to save the positions.

They have also given their new workforce a 20% wage increase and guaranteed they will be paid for the entire month on January.

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 of England 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% increase on their former earnings. We have also ensured everyone will get paid their January salary.”

One Future Energy employee Debra Smith, a single parent from Sunderland, was last week faced with the devastating news that she would be getting made redundant.

Debra said: “This morning Paul from Together Energy came in after the administrators and offered us permanent positions. Not only a role, but a role on a higher salary, and our January wages paid today. I’m in total disbelief at the moment, and can’t believe this has happened. We are all so happy and so relieved.”

David Stroud at Future Energy said: “We feared the worst but Paul Richards and the team at Together Energy have given the team and their families new hope. Hopefully this can lead to an ongoing energy business operation here in the North East and build on the expertise of our staff.

"Having worked with Together Energy previously I had no hesitation in recommending this company to our staff and I am sure they will go from strength to strength.”

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