ScottishPower is launching its biggest ever recruitment drive, with at least 1,000 new jobs set to be filled in the next 12 months.
The announcement follows a record number of green energy infrastructure projects being secured by the company in the first half of 2022.
These include securing contracts for a record 16 renewable energy projects across the UK in the Allocation Round 4 process. Totalling 2.1 GW, these projects will almost double the ScottishPower’s green energy generation capacity, spurring investment of up to £4bn.
In January, ScottishPower was also a big winner in the ScotWind auction, with seabed rights awarded for three offshore projects with total capacity of 7GW – two large-scale floating projects in partnership with Shell and one solo fixed project.
Chief executive Keith Anderson said: “The momentum of the first six months of 2022 and our record of achievement now gives us our biggest ever investment pipeline of green energy assets to help deliver the Government’s energy strategy and net zero for the UK.
“As a direct result, we now need at least 1,000 people to join us in new positions over the next twelve months to design, build and operate this green energy infrastructure and that’s why today, we’re issuing our biggest ever call for green recruits right across the country to fulfil our ambitions.”
These roles will be directly employed across all areas of ScottishPower’s businesses and at all stages, from trainees to time-served trades and supporting roles.
The UK supply chain will also see a further boost and potentially thousands more indirect jobs created as the company’s billions of pounds worth of projects advance at pace.
The jobs push was announced as part of ScottishPower's half-year results, which showed overall earnings before tax of £924.6m, a 2.6% or £23m increase.
Favourable network and renewables performance was partly offset by continued underlying adverse position in the liberalised retail side of the business.
Renewables earnings were up 27% to £386.7m during the period, mainly due to increased production as a result of windier weather conditions.
Earnings within the networks division were up 4.5% to £464.9m, including an £18m gross margin increase, mainly from distribution base revenues.
However, the liberalised side saw earnings drop by 60% - or £81m - to £54.3m year-on-year during the first half.
This was primarily gross margin related, according to the statement, which added: "The inability to pass on the high energy costs due to the price cap mechanism continues to lead to strain on earnings."
Gross margin also includes the impact of lower volumes - down £39m - primarily due to weather, with a milder winter than 2021.
ScottishPower retail customer numbers at end of June stood at 4.8 million, and in terms of total volumes versus last year, electricity was up by 0.4%, while gas fell by 21.3%.
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