The new boss of GB Energy has said the state-owned energy company will create up to 300 new jobs at its base in Aberdeen. Juergen Maier, appointed chairman of Labour’s flagship energy firm in June, claimed there would be “a lot of opportunity” for people currently working in the North Sea sector to get jobs in the company.

Maier, formerly the boss of Siemens UK, was criticised after it emerged his office would be in Manchester – despite GB Energy’s HQ being in the Granite City. Addressing MPs on Westminster’s energy security and net zero select committee on Wednesday, he revealed he’d been set a target to turn a profit within five years – the length of Labour’s parliamentary term in government.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech during a visit to Hutchinson Engineering in Widnes, north of England, on July 25, 2024.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech during a visit to Hutchinson Engineering in Widnes, north of England, on July 25, 2024.

Maier said: “We haven’t yet completed what we think the workforce plan is going to be, but we’re starting to recruit. Within this first term I think there will be 200-300 jobs in the office… what happens beyond that, let’s see.”

He told MPs he had a background in taking “risky technologies to market” which he claimed would stand him in good stead amid GB Energy’s plans to invest in offshore wind, tidal energy and other renewables along with large-scale carbon capture technology. But Maier added: “I don’t believe the technologies we’re currently talking about are going to fail.

“I think there’s enough engineering prowess, enough private investment already crowding into these spaces to know these are going to scale.” He said the firm would be set up with an “unapologetically long-term” vision.

A state-run energy company was one of Keir Starmer’s flagship manifesto promises in the general election. It was confirmed by the PM in September the firm, which will primarily function as an investment vehicle, would be headquartered in Aberdeen.

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts


This will close in 0 seconds