29 January 2009 09:51
E.ON to streamline Retail division to help create sustainable UK business

E.ON has today announced its intention to reduce its workforce by 450 people, largely from its Retail division. The company will make every effort to achieve this reduction by voluntary redundancies wherever possible.

The proposed reduction is part of an ongoing programme to introduce leaner and more efficient processes throughout E.ON UK. This programme could lead to further job reductions, but it is envisaged that these will be achieved as people who leave the company over the coming months are not replaced.

Dr Paul Golby, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: "These redundancies are part of an ongoing process that we started last year to ensure that we have a sustainable retail business in the UK, especially considering that we've now made a loss in Retail for two years in a row.

"This was clearly a difficult decision to make, and not one that we've taken lightly, but we firmly believe that it's the right thing to do for the company as a whole.

"I can also assure all of our customers that they remain our number one priority and I am certain that today's move won't affect the service we provide to them."

The planned reductions will be distributed among employees throughout the country, including E.ON's main offices in Nottinghamshire and at its Coventry HQ.

As part of the overall planned reduction, the company has also announced its intention to cease operations at its call centre in Tannochside, near Glasgow, which employs 40 people.

E.ON intends to work closely with the unions in order to achieve the required reduction by voluntary means wherever possible

The company employs around 18,000 people in the UK.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas - and is part of the E.ON group, the world's largest investor-owned power and gas company.

For more information contact:

Jonathan Smith on 024 7618 3676

Emily Highmore on 024 7618 3680