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Up to 55 jobs to go as SSE shuts NI energy services division

John Campbell
BBC News NI economics and business editor
Getty Images A woman in a purple jumper presses a button on a white thermostat. The thermostat, which sits on a white wall, reads the temperature 21 degrees Celsius. Beside the thermostat, on the wall, is a white multi-button panel.Getty Images
SSE say its decision was made after a period of challenging trading

Up to 55 jobs are to be lost after the energy company SSE said it will close its energy services division in Northern Ireland.

The business provides services like insulation and installation of renewable heating technologies.

The company said the decision comes after "an extended period of challenging trading".

Company accounts show the business had a total pre-tax loss of almost £2m in 2023 and 2024.

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The company suggested a failure from Stormont played a part in the decision

A company statement suggests that Stormont's failure to develop a retrofitting scheme for homes had played a part in its decision.

It said: "The decision to consult with staff on the closure of the business follows several years of financial losses and a lack of progress in the development of government policy supports for home retrofit."

There are major retrofit schemes in the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland which involves government grants to homeowners for things like installing heat pumps.

There is no comparable scheme in Northern Ireland although the Housing Executive, the major public housing provider, runs its own scheme.

'Not commercially sustainable'

The SSE sign outside the Maryland Industrial Estate plant

Stuart Hobbs, Director of SSE Airtricity Energy Services, said: "It's disappointing that we've had to make this decision, which is no reflection on the employees who have worked hard to bring improved energy services and upgrades to homes across Northern Ireland.

"However SSE Airtricity Energy Services NI is not commercially sustainable in current market conditions.

"We have started a consultation with staff today to discuss our intention to close the business. We will consider affected employees for redeployment within SSE where available."

SSE's other activities in Northern Ireland, including the supply of electricity and gas, employs a further 275 people and will be unaffected by the change.