GB Energy has been branded a "complete failure for Scotland" after files revealed fresh details about the company's activities north of the Border.
Documents revealed to The National under Freedom of Information legislation show that nearly three quarters of staff employed at GB Energy could be earning at least £100,000 a year.
Further, while the number of staff based in Aberdeen has increased, almost half of them are not employed on a permanent basis.
In the 26 months since Labour took power in Westminster, GB Energy – initially touted as a public energy company – has been dogged by chaos over a number of key pledges the party made during the 2024 General Election campaign, including that the company would be headquartered in Aberdeen, and that energy bills would be cut by £300.
The party also pledged that GB Energy would create 1000 direct jobs in its Aberdeen HQ, but this has subsequently been walked back.
According to the latest figures obtained by The National, GB Energy has 60 full-time employees, 29 short-term staff, and 52 on secondment from elsewhere.
Of the total, 48 (35%) live outside Scotland.
And of the 89 staff working in Scotland, 51 (57%) are based in Aberdeen – and just 29 (57%) of those are employed on a full-time basis, with 18 (35%) on temporary contracts and four (8%) on secondment.
The files also revealed that 72% of those employed with GB Energy could be earning an annual salary of at least £100k.
GB Energy's pay scheme is split into salary bands, with the lowest salary starting at £35k, and the highest capped at £350k.
The majority of staff (100) are on Grade C or above, with salaries starting from £64k.
A total of 50 staff are employed on Grade C, meaning they earn between £64k and £100k.
There are 38 staff on Grade D, earning between £76k and £125k.
Elsewhere, there are six employees on Grade E, earning between £100k and £140k, and a further six on the executive band, earning between £160k and £350k.
Further details have also emerged about GB Energy's Aberdeen headquarters.
GB Energy previously said that it would be moving into its permanent headquarters on Marischal Square in 2026.
The National can reveal that GB Energy's lease agreement began on February 27, with the company saying it expected staff to begin moving in on September 1.
The lease agreement lasts until 2038, with the opportunity to break the lease in 2032.
GB Energy is renting 785.20 square metres of space, along with 13 car park spaces in the building's basement.
There are 77 desk spaces available, along with an additional 41 placed in recreational areas, and five meeting rooms.
However, GB Energy refused to disclose how much it was paying to rent the headquarters, citing an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 that "disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Great British Energy and other parties to the agreements".
It comes after The National revealed that GB Energy is handing out millions of pounds in taxpayers' cash to private consultants to tell it "how to do its job".
The SNP have hit out at the latest revelations, branding GB Energy "irrelevant".
SNP MSP Jackie Dunbar told The National: “A GB Energy chief living in Manchester, a Number 10 North in Manchester and Scottish democracy 'off limits' – this is what 'Manchesterism' means to the people of Scotland. Fewer jobs and less power.
“Their flagship GB Energy was meant to create 1000 jobs in Aberdeen with tens of thousands of renewables roles too, but what do we have? A handful of jobs in Aberdeen and cash pumped into English nuclear power and Wimbledon solar panels."
Dunbar added: “The fact is 1000 energy jobs are being lost a month in our energy sector and the Labour Party expect us to be happy with an irrelevant organisation run from England.
"GB Energy has been a complete failure for Scotland and perfectly illustrates why Scotland's energy must be in Scotland's hands."
A GB Energy spokesperson said: "Great British Energy is focussed on driving the clean energy transition which will deliver a more secure and independent energy system for the UK.
“We expect to employ around 300 people over the next few years with the significant majority based in our Aberdeen HQ.
"GB Energy is already on the way to creating and supporting thousands of jobs across the country through our activities and investments. For example, through our investment in the Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Farm where more than 1000 jobs are expected to be created and supported throughout construction and operation."
