Scores of Edinburgh workers are facing losing their jobs after Ovo Energy announced they would be cutting up to 1700 jobs across the UK.
Ovo Energy announced on Thursday that they would be shutting their Scottish offices in Edinburgh, Perth, Cumbernauld and Dunfermline.
They plan to cut their ten offices in the UK down to just three, at Glasgow, Bristol and London, in a huge cost cutting exercise.
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They are expected to move out of their premises at 108 Princes Street over the coming year.
However, union bosses at Unite say Ovo is culling staff despite the firm’s top directors estimated to have been paid £4.6 million in salaries and benefits over the past five years.
The owner behind the firm, Stephen Fitzpatrick, is worth an estimated £675million.
The 45-year-old reportedly owns a £3.2million, five-bed mansion in the Cotswolds, with a swimming pool and set in 12 acres of land.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, the firm’s motor racing-loving founder who once criticised big energy firms when he sat beside them before MPs, is worth an estimated £675million.
The 45-year-old reportedly owns a £3.2million, five-bed mansion in the Cotswolds, with a swimming pool and set in 12 acres of land.
Ovo was transformed into Britain’s third-biggest energy supplier last year after taking over rival SSE’s retail customer base.
The company refused to comment on Thursday.
Unite national officer for energy, Simon Coop said: “We warned the directors about blundering into the SSE takeover.
“In recent years the same directors have plundered the accounts for amounts estimated to be touching £5 million.
“So, the company must be subject to severe scrutiny before the union decides on our next moves, but if they move to compulsory redundancies they will be fully opposed by the union.”
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The cuts to jobs in Edinburgh and other areas of Scotland by the UK gas and electricity provider OVO Energy, is very concerning.
“It is important that OVO employees are supported in the transition to new jobs and provided the necessary training if new skills are required.
"The rise in wholesale gas prices has led to many complications and ultimately is customers who will suffer with price hikes.
“We must ensure that home insulation is as efficient as possible and people are given financial support when there are cold spikes.”
