News review
10,000 jobs at risk if
green levies are cut
Stark warning of imminent job losses if Cameron cuts ECO
By Jack Allen
M ore than 10,000
construction and
insulation jobs could be
lost – many as early as Christmas
– if the Government cuts so-called
‘green levies’ on energy bills.
That is the stark warning from
the UK Green Building Council and
construction industry as the
Government considers its review of
green levies. Construction ?rms
installing energy-ef?ciency
measures through the Energy
Company Obligation (ECO) and
manufacturers that make products
such as solid wall insulation fear
over 10,000 jobs could be lost if
ECO is scrapped or scaled back.
Prime Minister David Cameron
has signalled his desire to “roll back”
green levies following the public
debate on the cost they add to
household energy bills. The
Government is expected to
announce its intentions in the
Autumn Statement on 5 December.
The Association of the
Building jobs put at risk by U-turn
Conservation of Energy estimates
up to 33,000 people are currently
employed delivering ECO and the
Green Deal. This should have risen
to 60,000 in 2015, according to
the Government’s own projections.
Paul King, Chief Executive of the
UK Green Building Council, said:
“The Prime Minister needs to realise
that going after ECO in a bid to cut
household energy bills could end
up costing 10,000 construction
and insulation jobs. That will
decimate the very industry that is
helping people – including some of
the most vulnerable in society –
reduce their bills in the long term.”
Rob Lambe, Managing Director of
Willmott Dixon Energy Services,
said: “We have invested heavily in
establishing a business to respond
to the projected market
opportunities of energy ef?ciency
under ECO. Over the next year we
anticipated employing more than
400 tradesmen installing insulation
to solid walled properties. But if ECO
funding is cut, this work will simply
come to a grinding halt and these
jobs will be lost, with thousands
more at risk in the wider industry.”
Sally Hancox, Director at
Gentoo, said: “We believe that
the Coalition’s brave, strong initial
commitment to ECO remains
right; the large-scale installation
of green measures actively
stimulates economic activity, it
creates jobs, and addresses the
growing issue of fuel poverty.”
Figures
5 in 6
Government is failing to
make good progress on
?ve of its six promises
to protect nature and
wildlife, says new report
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Emissions per person
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Value of the UK cycling
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