'Major jobs blow' for city as energy giant OVO set to close its Perth office

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Fair City has been hit with a "major jobs blow" after OVO announced it will close its Perth office. OVO Energy is understood to be shedding 1700 jobs across the UK as part of a restructure programme.The restructure will see OVO close its office at Grampian House on Dunkeld Road.OVO bought the SSE retail division in January 2020.

Politicians have reacted with concern to news the Perth office would shut. Perthshire South and Kinross-shire SNP MSP Jim Fairlie said: "OVO has been an important employer in my constituency since buying SSE’s retail energy business so this news is obviously very concerning indeed. "It is, as yet, unclear how many of the 1700 jobs they are seeking to cut are likely to be Perth-based, but since that number represents a quarter of their total workforce and they have indicated that they are planning to shut the Perth office it is liable to be significant."I am actively seeking a meeting with OVO to discuss these developments and I will do everything I can to secure the best possible outcome for my constituents."Conservative Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said: "This is a massive jobs blow for Perth and I am very concerned to hear this announcement.

It sounds like OVO have broken their pledge to have a presence in Perth, after SSE having such a long association with the city."We have been told by OVO that there are around 700 staff at their site in Perth, so it is obviously a very worrying time for them.”He added: "OVO has said they will operate voluntary redundancies and that staff will either be allocated to the three remaining sites – a new hub in Glasgow, Bristol or London, if they live within 30 miles of one of these."However, Perth staff won’t be able to move to any of these sites,