Member Article

Former eaga employees in line for £1000

Former employees of energy firm eaga plc are being encouraged to take advantage of £1000 available to them for upskilling.

Following the sale of eaga to Carillion plc in April last year, the eaga Trust was formed to promote employee engagement and ownership.

Now the Trust is searching for former employees who could benefit from their skill-builder fund, which gives registered members £1000 to fund training, skills and education.

Almost 7500 people worked for the North-East based eaga plc, spread across the UK, but less than half have so far come forward to claim their entitlement.

Mark, 29, from York, worked for eaga plc and then Carillion plc for five years before being made redundant in May 2012. He immediately applied to the skill-builder fund for help and thanks to the grant he received now runs his own gas engineering company.

He said: “The money I received was invaluable. I used it to fund a series of training courses which enabled me to expand my skill set and increase my qualifications. As a result of that I am now able to offer my customers a far greater range of services than I would have otherwise been.”

The Trust has also launched a business support programme where members can also find expert support, advice and even possible help with initial set-up costs.

Ashley Dean, Chief Executive Officer at The eaga Trust said: “The eaga Trust has an unusual history; we aim to make a real difference by promoting employee engagement and ownership in the workplace as well as helping our members in finding fulfilling and rewarding employment where their views, and their efforts at work, really matter to the organisation concerned.

“We think our members who benefit from The eaga Trust will be keen to replicate the principles, values and model of employee engagement and ownership with their own ventures.”

Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for Trust membership and access £1000 available under the skill- builder fund as well as get help with starting their own business or use the other employment support initiatives should register their membership on The eaga Trust website www.eagatrust.com where they will be asked to provide details of their employment at eaga.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .