CARILLION Energy Services has secured a lucrative deal to transform the energy and carbon efficiency of up to 60,000 households in Birmingham.

Under the £600m Birmingham Energy Savers (BES) scheme, Carillion, which took over Newcastle-based plc Eaga for £300m last year, will be fitting energy-efficiency measures, such as insulation and new boilers, under the Government’s Green Deal.

The eight-year contract with Birmingham City Council is initially worth up to £600m, but has the potential to be extended to the wider West Midlands area under a framework agreement worth up to £1.5bn over eight years. The scheme will not only benefit tens of thousands of households across the city, but also schools and other non-domestic council properties.

As part of its partnership with the city council, Carillion has committed to create and sustain at least 360 jobs and to help 600 people from priority groups into placements, training and work.

The firm will look to hiring Birmingham-based energy assessors, who will evaluate properties and provide advice on the energy efficiency improvements they require.

Nigel Taylor, managing director of Carillion Energy Services, said: “Birmingham Energy Savers is the first Green Deal programme announced by a local authority and could act as a pathfinder for others.

“Indeed, in this region Newcastle City Council is developing an equivalent Green Deal programme of its own to help households cut energy bills and carbon. We are well-placed to help deliver these and similar energy efficiency programmes.”