Staff told 'hundreds' of jobs at risk just days before Christmas

STAFF at a major Welsh employer have been told their jobs are at risk just days before Christmas.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK

Consumer Energy Solutions staff installing solar panels

City Energy Group, parent company of Consumer Energy Solutions, said its Swansea site is proposed for closure.

Issuing staff with notices of redundancy in a 45-day consultation, the company said the proposed closure was the result of the end of the UK Government-backed energy scheme ECO4 which it operated.

Devastated staff at Consumer Energy Solutions in Llansamlet claimed they have also been told they'll be paid only minimum wage in December and won't get their promised bonuses. City Energy Group did not respond to requests for comment.

The ECO4 energy-efficiency scheme helped homeowners save on home energy upgrades, such as insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in last month's Budget that the ECO4 scheme will end on March 31, 2026. It will be replaced by the Warm Homes Plan managed by local councils but it's not yet clear who will get the contracts to transition to that scheme.

City Energy Group did not confirmed how many jobs will go in a statement to workers, but affected staff claimed it could be as many as 500.

One member of staff, who did not want to be named, said people were "in turmoil" after being told the grim news on a Teams call online just before Christmas.