Hundreds of new jobs are likely to be created at a new electricity supply operations centre. Up to 800 new jobs are planned in the next two years at the Southern Electric centre in Thatcham, Berkshire. The building, which was officially opened on Friday, will house the company’s warehouse for southern England and Wales. It will also be the base for meter reading, power distribution, telecoms, customer service and sales staff. The new centre is part of a multi-million pound investment by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), the parent company of Southern Electric. The company hopes to take on 500 extra people by December of 2008, and up to 300 the following year. During the next two years up to £10m will be invested to transform it into a centre of excellence for the training of electricity and gas engineers, chief executive Ian Marchant said. By March, trainees will be able to practise their skills on simulated overhead and underground networks with electricity lines and poles, plus gas mains, within the main training building. Mr Marchant said: “It is with Southern Electric’s expansion in mind that we have decided to move our operation here. “Our core purpose is to provide the energy people need in a reliable and sustainable way, and this operations centre will be critical to helping us deliver on that commitment.” MP Richard Benyon said: “I am glad that West Berkshire’s location at the crossroads of the south of England continues to attract impressive companies, such as Scottish and Southern Energy”. SSE moved into the building in Thatcham at the end of April, leaving behind outdated premises in Hambridge Road.

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