ENERGY firm Eon is to cut about 500 jobs, it announced today.

The firm, which employs 9,400 people in this country, said the British energy market was changing at an “unprecedented rate” and remains “increasingly competitive.”

Eon said that as part of “ongoing transformation” aimed at saving about £100 million, it is looking to reduce numbers across non-customer facing departments, but that it was not yet possible to say how many workers at individual sites would be affected by the proposals.

Chief executive Michael Lewis said: “In discussion with trade unions we've identified potential reductions of about 500 roles across the UK and we're committed to achieving these reductions on a voluntary basis wherever possible.

“I'm very aware this will be a difficult time for our colleagues, but our aim has always been to keep uncertainty to a minimum and I can assure everyone affected that we'll be as supportive as we can.”

Unite’s acting national officer for energy and utilities Peter McIntosh said: “Unite is working constructively with the Eon management on its plans for a number of redundancies which, we understand, will be on a voluntary basis.”