The North East’s fastest-growing business is set to create 150 new jobs in the region and is taking more than 30,000 square feet of space in a landmark, new Gateshead development.
Global energy procurement specialist Northern Gas and Power has taken four floors in the six-storey, state-of-the-art Riga building in Gateshead’s Baltic Quarter, close to its existing Baltic Place offices.
The recruitment process for the new jobs, which include energy consultants, customer service, training and technical roles will help the business reach its next level of growth, with the first occupants expected to move into the new offices by September this year.
A £150,000 grant from the North East LEP’s Energy for Growth Fund, which is supported by funds from the Government’s Local Growth Fund via the North East LEP, has supported the project.
Part of the Global Procurement Group, Northern Gas and Power invested quickly in essential equipment and technology at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic which enabled over 90% of its global workforce to work from home, a move which has helped put it in a position to focus on future growth plans with a significant recruitment drive in the North East, wider UK and across the globe.
The overarching Global Procurement Group currently employs around 550 people and is aiming to increase that figure to 700 by the end of the year, while also taking its turnover past the £49m mark.
The business was founded in South Shields in 2012 by CEO Fokhrul Islam, and alongside its UK offices in Gateshead, Newcastle and Leeds, it also has bases in the US, France, Malta and India.
It provides a variety of different sized businesses with specialist services in energy procurement, energy management and real-time energy analysis that enables them to respond instantly and cut both costs and carbon emissions.
Its ground-breaking energy management technologies are developed in-house by the company’s Malta-based energy lab, ClearVUE Systems, while it is also increasingly helping clients to manage their environmental responsibilities and cut their carbon footprints.
Northern Gas and Power was named as the UK’s Energy Consultancy of the Year (50+ employees) at the 2019 Energy Awards and ranked 4th in the Sunday Times’ HSBC International Track 200 league table, which ranks Britain’s mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales.
Group finance director Chris Baty says: “We remain very proud of our North East roots and have exciting and ambitious growth plans here in Gateshead, taking a substantial space in the new RIGA building, close to our current waterfront HQ. We are creating hundreds of jobs to continue this expansion, here regionally, but also right across the UK and our global territories – France, US, Malta and India.
“As for many businesses, navigating the Covid-19 pandemic has been challenging, but we responded quickly, protecting our people and supporting our customers and other businesses, and we are in the fortunate position to now have a platform to build on for our next wave of expansion.
“The North East LEP’s involvement with this project reflects their confidence in our business growth and job creation plans, and we’d like to thank both them and Gateshead Council for their continued support as it has progressed.
“The RMT Accountants and Hay & Kilner teams have also provided invaluable advice and guidance which has been extremely helpful in securing this move.”
Andrew Clark, Energy Programme Lead at the North East LEP, adds: “Our aim is to drive regional growth while delivering on national energy objectives at scale. Northern Gas and Power is a great example of how this sector is creating more and better jobs and adds to our expanding asset base. It’s a pleasure to be able to help the team realise their ambitious plans.”
Peter Udall, Strategic Director Economy Innovation and Growth at Gateshead Council says: “We’re delighted that Northern Gas and Power continue to show commitment to Gateshead by taking four floors at Riga, our new Grade A office block.
“The council invested £13m to build Riga speculatively demonstrating the confidence we have in Baltic Quarter and the wider Gateshead Quays area. The building is now 100% let before the doors have opened and to have major North East employer NGP on board, who are creating an additional 150 jobs, is fantastic especially during these difficult times.”
Michael Cantwell, head of corporate finance at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, worked with the Northern Gas and Power management team to help secure the funding, and Chris Anderson, partner in the commercial property team at Hay & Kilner Law Firm, advised on the Riga building deal.
Michael Cantwell at RMT Accountants adds: “Northern Gas and Power is rapidly becoming one of the North East’s stand-out businesses and we’re pleased to have played our part in the next chapter of its regional development.
“The Energy for Growth Fund provides a great opportunity for North East firms to take a major step forward and we’re finding interest in it is growing within the business community.”
Chris Anderson at Hay & Kilner Law Firm says: “Riga is an outstanding landmark development in an area which is going through an exciting renaissance and it will make an ideal location from which Northern Gas and Power can drive the next phases of its expansion.”
