OREANDA-NEWS. September 11, 2012. Two hundred new recruits have started at SSE’s Customer Service Centre in Havant, in new roles created to deliver the energy firm’s recent pledge to offer all customers an Annual Energy Review (AER).

The jobs, which were announced in April this year include the recruitment of Customer Service Advisors, Team Managers and other support staff, are already enabling the company to begin contacting customers to provide the newly launched Annual Energy Review.

The review allows staff to discuss with customers various aspects of their account, including checking that they are on the right tariff for their needs and lifestyle, are receiving benefits they might be entitled to and that they are using their energy efficiently.

Director of Customer Service Tony Keeling, said: "We’ve been able to recruit the right people from the local area, with the right skills and experience, and we have also provided them with training to ensure they offer the best service to our customers. Some have specific industry knowledge, some have come from other related skill groups, and some have come to us looking for a complete change.

"Most importantly, however, what they all have in common is their passion to deliver good customer service. SSE has frequently been acknowledged in independent reviews as delivering the best customer service in the industry and that’s why it’s important to us to recruit the best people we can find.

"We’ve employed people recently made redundant by British Gas, and it’s also very encouraging that others have joined us on the strength of our reputation for award winning customer service.”

He added: "The annual review is just one of our new proactive measures to have directly benefited customers, and the reaction we’ve had so far shows that it has been genuinely appreciated.

"In delivering the Annual Energy Review, we have started on the most important calls, initially prioritising customers believed to be vulnerable, and we are now offering the review to all customers throughout the year.”

SSE’s commitment to carrying out an Annual Energy Review was one of ten pledges made by the company last autumn to help build trust. The initial ten pledges have been delivered and a further ten measures were announced in April to continue to enhance transparency, restore simplicity, improve customer service and ensure fairness for all customers.