This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25135247

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Npower confirms 1,460 UK jobs to go Npower confirms 1,460 UK jobs to go
(about 5 hours later)
Energy giant Npower has confirmed that 1,460 UK jobs are to go as part of a major corporate restructuring.Energy giant Npower has confirmed that 1,460 UK jobs are to go as part of a major corporate restructuring.
The company, owned by Germany's RWE, plans to outsource much of its customer service and back office functions to Capita and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), it said in a statement.The company, owned by Germany's RWE, plans to outsource much of its customer service and back office functions to Capita and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), it said in a statement.
But call centres would remain in the UK, it added.But call centres would remain in the UK, it added.
Npower, one of the UK's "big six" gas and electricity suppliers, currently employs 9,600 people in the UK.Npower, one of the UK's "big six" gas and electricity suppliers, currently employs 9,600 people in the UK.
Chief executive Paul Massara said: "This restructure is necessary if we are to deliver the levels of service our customers deserve."Chief executive Paul Massara said: "This restructure is necessary if we are to deliver the levels of service our customers deserve."
About 540 of Npower's existing staff will transfer to Capita under TUPE - Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 - which effectively protects their existing terms and conditions, the company said.About 540 of Npower's existing staff will transfer to Capita under TUPE - Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 - which effectively protects their existing terms and conditions, the company said.
The outsourcing would help Npower cope with peak time calls, it argued.The outsourcing would help Npower cope with peak time calls, it argued.
Back office work, such as checking meter readings against customers' bills, would be outsourced to India using TCS, said Npower.Back office work, such as checking meter readings against customers' bills, would be outsourced to India using TCS, said Npower.
The 1,460 redundancies would take place over the next eight months, with the following sites affected:The 1,460 redundancies would take place over the next eight months, with the following sites affected:
"I understand that these changes would be incredibly hard for some of our employees and we'll be doing everything we can to support them over the next few months," said Mr Massara."I understand that these changes would be incredibly hard for some of our employees and we'll be doing everything we can to support them over the next few months," said Mr Massara.
More cuts
These latest job cuts come on top of the planned closure of its Kingswinford site in the West Midlands, announced earlier this year, which housed about 300 call centre and IT support staff.
About 120 of these IT jobs were outsourced to Indian firm Wipro and the UK's Computacenter, an Npower spokeswoman confirmed to the BBC, while the call centre staff were relocated to Worcester.
The Kingswinford site is due to close completely "at the end of the year", she said.
In October, Npower said it would raise household gas and electricity prices by 10.4% on average, blaming the increase partly on the cost of implementing the government's carbon-reduction policies.In October, Npower said it would raise household gas and electricity prices by 10.4% on average, blaming the increase partly on the cost of implementing the government's carbon-reduction policies.
Owner RWE has already said it will cut 6,750 jobs across Europe between 2014 and 2016.Owner RWE has already said it will cut 6,750 jobs across Europe between 2014 and 2016.