British Gas is trebling its recruitment of apprentice gas engineers, creating 1,000 new jobs over the next 18 months.  
The company will invest £40m in recruitment and training across its network of0 five engineering academy training centres based across the UK.
 
The move by British Gas will help to plug the industry-wide shortage of domestic gas engineers, estimated to stand at 20,000. The new British Gas apprentices will be joining an existing workforce of 9,000 gas engineers and will be trained to NVQ Level 3 standard.
 
Chris Weston, managing director at British Gas Services, said: “We have found the success of the apprenticeship scheme is helping to drive the business forward.  It’s an important route to attracting motivated and enthusiastic recruits and providing an enviably high standard of quality training.”   

The gas giant also said women apprentice recruits have trebled in the past two years.