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61-591: The building was previously occupied by British Gas and was one of the largest office buildings in Cardiff, and is yards away from Cardiff Queen Street railway station . When British Gas was privatised in 1986, fewer than 600 people were employed in the Cardiff office. In 1998 the Cardiff regional headquarters became the National Sales Centre for Britain. Prior to relocation, 2,400 people were employed at Helmont House, two thirds of which were call centre staff, with

122-556: A fuel was still being marketed to consumers, by such means as the National Gas Congress and Exhibition in 1913. The gas used in the 19th and early 20th centuries was coal gas , but in the period of 1967–77, British domestic coal gas supplies were replaced by natural gas . In 1948, Clement Attlee 's Labour government reshaped the gas industry, bringing in the Gas Act 1948. The act (on the vesting date of 1 April 1949) nationalised

183-581: A February 2018 announcement that 4,000 jobs would be cut. Centrica cut its dividend in July 2019, after making a loss of £446 million in the prior six months. In the spring of 2020, following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic , offices and factories shut and energy use decreased sharply, and the financial problems caused by the pandemic among Centrica's customers were expected to lead to bad debts. Analysts dropped their estimate of Centrica's earnings for 2020, 2021, and 2022 by 30%, and Centrica paused its search for

244-659: A buyer for its 69% stake in Spirit Energy. The share price in April reached a record low of £0.30, valuing the company at less than half of its net debt of nearly £4bn. In June 2020, Centrica's shares were moved from the FTSE 100 to the FTSE 250 Index . The same month, the company announced that it would cut 5,000 jobs, half of them from leadership, management and corporate departments. In 2020 Centrica employed about 27,000 people, with 20,000 based in

305-630: A combined capacity of 2.3GW, to EP UK Investments Ltd for £318million in cash. On 11 December 2017, Centrica combined its North Sea exploration & production business with Bayerngas Norge , to form a joint venture named Spirit Energy with the German, Austrian and Swiss owners of Bayerngas, led by German energy and infrastructure firm Stadtwerke München (SWM). In December 2017, the Competition and Markets Authority agreed to grant Centrica plc and Centrica Storage Limited's (CSL's) request to be released from

366-474: A fundamental strategic review was launched. This focused on outlook and sources of growth; portfolio mix and capital intensity; operating capability and efficiency; and group financial framework. The review was a detailed analysis of the group's prospects, led by Centrica's senior management. It concluded that Centrica's strength lay in being a customer-facing business and that all activities and priorities would focus on meeting customers' changing needs. The shape of

427-449: A further 800 working in the field. In 2009 the building's occupier, British Gas , relocated its Wales headquarters to a new 70,000-square-foot (6,500 m) office site at the nearby Callaghan Square , in the south of Cardiff city centre . Helmont House was acquired by the property company Rightacres when the building's value was estimated at over £10m. Rightacres had previously acquired Holland House in Cardiff from Lloyds TSB , which

488-503: A government agency, North Thames Gas Board . The various area gas boards were merged into the national British Gas Corporation in 1973. The Gas Act 1986 sold the company to private investors as British Gas plc . Centrica became a separate, distinct corporation on 17 February 1997, when British Gas plc split (demerged) to form three separate companies: Centrica plc, BG plc and Transco plc . Centrica took over gas sales and gas trading, services and retail businesses, together with

549-498: A large operating profit in 2022; it increased due to the jump in energy prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Centrica's operating profit for 2022 was more than triple its profit for 2021. In July 2023, Centrica finalised an $ 8 billion agreement to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a new floating production facility in the Gulf of Mexico. Centrica's operations are principally

610-437: A loss of approximately 680 jobs. In May 2018, Centrica announced that British Gas had lost 100,000 customers since the start of the year. However, the parent company was still likely to hit its targets of 2018, and pay dividends of 12p per share. British Gas was led by chief executive, Sarwjit Sambhi, who oversees a business that provides energy and services to around ten million homes, and employs over 28,000 staff based across

671-494: A provider of device-level energy management technology, for $ 60 million (£39 million). In April 2016, Centrica acquired Neas Energy A/S (Neas), one of Europe's providers of energy management and revenue optimisation services for decentralised third-party owned assets. It also acquired ENER-G Cogen International Limited ("ENER-G Cogen"), an established supplier and operator of combined heat and power (CHP) systems and REstore NV, Europe's demand response aggregator. In June 2017, it

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732-478: A series of media stories highlighting their poor customer service and practice of breaking into homes to force people onto pre-payment meters. After an internal enquiry, they announced they would no longer use the third-party contractor responsible. In a 2023 review, the UK government regulator for the energy sector, Ofgem , found that British Gas had 'moderate weaknesses' with their customer service processes, alongside

793-539: A speed limiter, designed by Siemens . The deal was renewed in September 2015. In 2020 British Gas announced they would be introducing an all electric fleet of vans, with all diesel vehicles to be replaced by 2025. The company are currently replacing diesel vehicles with the Vauxhall Vivaro-e. In April 2021, British Gas changed the contractual terms and conditions for thousands of its workers. Those who did not accept

854-482: A £2 billion three-year contract with Qatargas for the purchase of 2.4 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas . In March 2011, Centrica agreed the sale of the electricity and gas supply business of its Netherlands based subsidiary Oxxio to Eneco BV for €72 million (£63 million) in cash. The sale completed Centrica's exit from the supply of electricity and gas in Continental Europe, following

915-502: Is let to law firm NewLaw Solicitors . The building featured in episodes of the television programmes Doctor Who (" Partners in Crime ") and Torchwood in 2007. Both series are filmed and produced in Cardiff. The angular look of Helmont House was inspired by the Cubist art movement which was dominated by artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque . Helmont House is in close proximity to

976-562: Is listed on the London Stock Exchange , and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index . The company has its historical origin in the Gas Light and Coke Company which incorporated in 1812. Over the next 137 years, it grew by acquisition of other gas companies to become the primary supplier of gas to Greater London . In 1949, under the Gas Act 1948 the ownership of the company transferred to

1037-766: Is the supply of electricity and gas to consumers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is the largest supplier of gas to domestic customers in the United Kingdom, and one of the largest suppliers of electricity, operating under the trading names British Gas in England and Wales, Scottish Gas in Scotland, and Phoenix Gas in Northern Ireland. It owns Bord Gáis Energy in the Republic Of Ireland . The company also provides household services including plumbing. Centrica

1098-486: The Rough Undertakings. CSL decided that it could no longer operate Rough as a storage facility as the facility was no longer capable of safe injection operations due to its age and condition and that due to the economics of seasonal storage, neither refurbishing or rebuilding the facility would be cost-effective. The British Gas brand lost 750,000 domestic customers in 2017 amid intense competition , contributing to

1159-712: The South Lokichar Basin in Kenya . In August 2014, Tullow, the operator, revealed significant oil discoveries had been made in the Etom 1 exploration well and testing block 10BB, which expanded the already proven South Lokichar Basin "significantly northwards," taking in an additional 247 km . In September 2013, Centrica established Hive as part of its Connected Home offering, building on its Remote Heating Control service provided through its British Gas subsidiary. In February 2015, in light of significantly changed circumstances,

1220-578: The UK . The employee cuts are to be a result of a restructuring plan designed to simplify and create a smaller group that is focused on delivery to their customers. British Gas engineers employed by Centrica began a strike in January 2021, which was extended into February, and was eventually called off by the GMB union after 44 days of strike action, after members endorsed a new pay deal. In July 2020, Centrica announced

1281-508: The United Kingdom . It is the trading name of British Gas Services Limited and British Gas New Heating Limited, both subsidiaries of Centrica . Serving around ten million homes in the United Kingdom, British Gas was the largest energy supplier in the country until 2024 when it was overtaken by Octopus Energy . It remains the largest gas supplier. It is considered one of the Big Six dominating

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1342-459: The "gas board", a term still sometimes used when referring to British Gas. In addition, the Gas Act established the Gas Council , its constitution was such that control lay effectively with the area boards. The council consisted of a chairman and deputy chairman, both appointed by the minister, and the chairmen of each of the twelve area boards. The council served as a channel of communication with

1403-855: The Aldgate Gas Light and Coke Company (1819), the City of London Gas Light and Coke Company (1870), the Equitable Gas Light Company (1871), the Great Central Gas Consumer's Company (1870), Victoria Docks Gas Company (1871), Western Gas Light Company (1873), Imperial Gas Light and Coke Company (1876), Independent Gas Light and Coke Company (1876), the London Gas Light Company (1883), Richmond Gas Company (1925), Brentford Gas Company (1926), Pinner Gas Company (1930) and Southend-on-Sea and District Gas Company (1932). On 1 May 1949,

1464-507: The British Gas brand, the company started supplying its first domestic electricity customers. At the end of 1998, under CEO Sir Roy Gardner and Finance Director Mark Clare, Centrica attempted to diversify – firstly by developing the Goldfish credit card, then in July 1999, by acquiring The AA for £1.1 billion. In July 2001, Centrica further diversified with the opportunistic purchase of

1525-540: The British Gas retail brand. British Gas acquired Dyno-Rod in October 2004. In April 2016, it was announced that 224,000 residential customers had left the company, citing customers coming to the end of their fixed deals and then moving on to other suppliers as the main reason for this loss. In the same month (April 2016) British Gas also announced it would be closing a call centre and office in Oldbury (West Midlands), with

1586-474: The GLCC became the major part of the new North Thames Gas Board , one of Britain's twelve regional gas boards after the passing of the Gas Act 1948 by Clement Attlee 's post-war Labour government . In the beginning of the 1900s, the gas market in the United Kingdom was mainly run by county councils and small private firms. At this time the use of a flammable gas (often known as " town gas ") piped to houses as

1647-542: The London stock market. To encourage individuals to become shareholders, the offer was intensely advertised with the "If you see Sid...Tell him!" campaign. The privatisation was criticised by Baron Gray of Contin who said it broke a key part of the Conservative's 1983 manifesto that the party would not simply replace one monopoly with another; at the time, British Gas was the only organisation that could supply gas to anyone in

1708-544: The North West Energy Task Force which on 8 January 2015 organised an Open Letter to Lancashire County Council in support of fracking. This letter was signed by Jane Watson, sister of Robert Altham , the judge who sentenced three anti-fracking protesters to jail in September 2018. British Gas plc British Gas (trading as Scottish Gas in Scotland ) is an energy and home services provider in

1769-615: The Penguin. In 2023 British Gas began a five-year partnership with the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association. British Gas is a supplier of both gas and electricity for homes across the country. However the infrastructure (pipes) which delivers the gas to consumers is owned and maintained by other companies. Similarly, the network of towers and cables that distributes their electricity

1830-577: The UK residential telecoms business of Australia's One.Tel . Centrica also moved into the North American energy supply market, through the acquisition of the Canada-based company Direct Energy in July 2000, for £406 million. Direct Energy's operations were subsequently considerably expanded through a number of further acquisitions, including of Enbridge Services for £437 million in January 2002. This strategy of diversification changed in

1891-400: The United Kingdom. A further seven hundred job cuts in the United Kingdom were announced by Centrica in July 2019, amid growing marketplace challenges, which include the loss of 742,000 customers in 2018, and the government's price cap. In May 2007, British Gas signed a deal which saw 1,000 Volkswagen Caddy vans being supplied to the firm, which were fitted with a bespoke racking system and

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1952-452: The area boards, was appointed and supervised by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry until 1974, when those powers were vested in the newly created position of Secretary of State for Energy . The Conservative Government, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher introduced the Gas Act 1986 , which led to the privatisation of the company, and on 8 December 1986, its shares floated on

2013-558: The beginning of the 1970s, the gas industry was again restructured after the Gas Act 1972 was passed. The act merged all the area boards, created the British Gas Corporation and abolished the Gas Council. From its inception, the corporation was responsible for development and maintenance of the supply of gas to Great Britain, in addition to satisfying reasonable demand for gas throughout the country. Its leadership, like that of

2074-475: The beginning of the 1990s, one advertisement included Cheryl Tweedy as a small child, more than ten years before the beginning of her pop music career. In November 2012, the Information Commissioner's Office publicly listed British Gas as one of a number of companies that it had concerns about due to complaints of unsolicited marketing telephone calls. In response, British Gas said that "We uphold

2135-418: The changes by midday on 14 April 2021, were told to leave the firm. This resulted in a public outcry over the treatment of long-time workers, in particular over social media and with support from workers' unions and the opposition Labour Party . In response, British Gas workers went on strike between January and June 2021, when workers accepted a new pay deal. In 2023, British Gas came under criticism after

2196-552: The company acquired the Caythorpe gas producing field near Bridlington to use for storage purposes. It also agreed to buy 20% of British Energy from EDF , financing this with a £2.2 billion, 3 for 8 rights issue . The rights issue offered shares at 160 pence per share and closed on 12 December 2008. In August 2009, Centrica took over Venture Production , a North Sea gas producer. On 13 June 2010 Centrica, through Direct Energy, acquired Clockwork Home Services. Combining with

2257-533: The country. In February 1997, eleven years after it had been privatised, British Gas plc demerged to become the entirely separate BG Group and the Gas Sales and Gas Trading, Services and Retail businesses. The Gas Sales and Gas Trading and Services and Retail businesses, together with the gas production business of the North and South Morecambe gas fields, were transferred to Centrica , which continues to own and operate

2318-545: The earlier disposal of its supply businesses in Belgium and Spain. In November 2011, Centrica agreed to buy $ 1.6 billion stakes of eight fields on the Norwegian continental shelf from Statoil ASA. In a second deal, Centrica agreed to buy five billion cubic meters a year gas from the same company from 2015 to 2025 as equal to 5% of gas consumption in the United Kingdom. Centrica's Germany based trading division Centrica Energie GmbH

2379-424: The emergency drainage franchiser, who had previously been contracted to carry out work for Centrica's customers who had bought drain and plumbing insurance. From 2005, Centrica declared a strategy of consolidating within the energy sector, upstream and downstream, including expanding operations overseas. New chairman Roger Carr replaced retiring chairman Sir Michael Perry in 2005, whilst new CEO Sam Laidlaw picked up

2440-482: The energy ombudsman was "disproportionate to the mistake". British Gas Business was fined £1 million in July 2011 after Ofgem's investigation found the company had misreported the amount of electricity supplied under the British government's renewables obligation. British Gas claims it spotted the problem – it said an over-reporting of the amount of renewable energy it was supplying caused by human error – and notified

2501-481: The existing energy offer made Centrica the largest provider of heating and cooling, plumbing and electrical services in North America. On 17 November 2010, Centrica acquired the assets of heat pump installation company Cool Planet Technologies Ltd. for £0.5 million in cash. This aimed to boost the company's strategy of developing a broad range of low carbon technologies and advice. In February 2012, Centrica signed

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2562-405: The gas and electricity market in the United Kingdom. The Gas Light and Coke Company was the first public utility company in the world. It was founded by Frederick Albert Winsor and incorporated by royal charter on 30 April 1812 under the seal of King George III . It continued to thrive for the next 136 years, expanding into domestic services whilst absorbing many smaller companies including

2623-532: The gas industry in the United Kingdom and 1,062 privately owned and municipal gas companies were merged into twelve area gas boards , each a separate body with its own management structure. The twelve gas boards were: Eastern, East Midlands, Northern, North Eastern, North Thames , North West, Scottish , Southern, South Eastern, South West, Wales, and West Midlands. Each area board was divided into geographical groups or divisions which were often further divided into smaller districts. These boards simply became known as

2684-477: The gas production operations in the North and South Morecambe gas fields ( Rampside Gas Terminal ). The new company was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index . The company operates through three intermediary holding companies : In 1998, Centrica's supplier monopoly for gas came to an end. Centrica maintained the British Gas retail brand but is only allowed to use this brand name in the United Kingdom. The electricity market also opened up to competition and, through

2745-478: The group would be reworked to reflect this, including one group-wide efficiency programme that would reduce employee numbers by around 6,000. Also in February 2015, under its British Gas brand, Centrica completed the acquisition of AlertMe, a connected home company based in the United Kingdom that provided innovative energy management products and services. In November 2015, Direct Energy also acquired Panoramic Power,

2806-487: The highest standards when contacting people in their homes, and only use contact information if we have express permission to do so". In July 2014, regulator Ofgem reached an agreement with British Gas for the company to pay £1 million in compensation to hundreds of people, who had been advised to switch from other suppliers to British Gas by British Gas advisers using exaggerated claims. On 20 September 2015, British Gas launched an advert, including their new mascot, Wilbur

2867-519: The lowest carbon emissions of the major providers. Centrica has also acquired an option to purchase a 20% stake in EDF's subsidiary, NNB Generation Company (NNB GenCo). In December 2017, Centrica launched a new company as a joint venture with German energy and infrastructure firm Stadtwerke München (SWM). Spirit Energy, an exploration and production (E&P) company, is the result of a combination of Centrica's E&P business and Bayerngas Norge AS, which

2928-607: The main shopping areas including Queen Street and St David's . Cardiff Queen Street railway station is within a short walk, as are the Cardiff Central Bus and Railway Stations . The building is one of the closest hotels to the Cardiff International Arena . Centrica Centrica plc is a British multinational energy and services company with its headquarters in Windsor, Berkshire . Its principal activity

2989-641: The majority of suppliers. They are described as the "worst firm to be moved to" by MoneySavingExpert.com after a 2022 survey. British Gas has actively been involved in sports sponsorship since the early 2000s. This includes a six-year, £15 million deal with British Swimming between 2009 and 2015, encompassing the London 2012 Olympics . From 2006 to 2009, it sponsored the Southern Football League of England . The company's extensive television advertising has featured many high-profile individuals, and in

3050-422: The matter was not resolved adequately, failed to provide sufficient information to complainants about the energy ombudsman service, and failed to deal properly with complaints from micro-businesses because it had not implemented the necessary processes and practices. A spokesperson for British Gas said the company felt that finding it in breach of rules for failing to provide adequate information to consumers about

3111-650: The middle of 2003, possibly under pressure from major city shareholders to deliver better returns and/or possibly anticipating pressure on the core energy supply business. The change started with the sale of the Goldfish business to Lloyds TSB (who subsequently sold it to Morgan Stanley Bank International Limited). Then, in July 2004, Centrica sold the AA to two private equity firms; Luxembourgish CVC and British Permira for £1.75 billion. In December 2005, Centrica sold their OneTel business to Carphone Warehouse. However, in October 2004 Centrica paid £57 million for Dyno-Rod ,

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3172-479: The minister; undertook labour negotiations; undertook research; and acted as spokesperson for the gas industry generally. The Gas Act 1965 shifted the balance of power to the centre: it put the Gas Council on the same footing as the area boards, with the powers to borrow up to £900 million, to manufacture or acquire gas and to supply gas in bulk to any area board. In May 1968, the Gas Council moved to large new offices at 59 Bryanston Street, Marble Arch , London. In

3233-502: The regulator. Centrica entered the political arena in February 2014, by threatening an investment strike in response to the Labour Party's proposal for a price freeze . Caroline Flint , the shadow energy secretary, said: "It is not acceptable for companies to threaten that the lights will go out because they don't want greater transparency, competition and accountability". Centrica, in conjunction with Cuadrilla Resources , funded

3294-523: The reins from retiring CEO Sir Roy Gardner in March 2006. In January 2006, it was rumoured that the Russian state-owned utility company Gazprom was seeking a takeover of Centrica. This created controversy in the media, while the Department for Trade and Industry stated any deal would be subject to "intense scrutiny". Tony Blair announced in April that he would not block any potential deal. In September 2008,

3355-502: The sale of its subsidiary of Direct Energy in North America for $ 3.63 billion to NRG Energy , in order to put more focus into its home markets. The money from the sale is to be put to the reduction of net debt and to the contribution of pension plans. On 1 June 2022, it was announced that it will be promoted from the FTSE 250, and became a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index effective on 20 June. In February 2023, Centrica reported

3416-479: The supply of electricity and gas to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom. They are organised as follows: Centrica ceased to own large power stations in 2017. In May 2009, Centrica purchased a 20% stake in nuclear power generator British Energy from EDF Energy . The company now produces 14.3% of its electricity from nuclear plants (the second highest rate in the United Kingdom), helping it to achieve

3477-591: Was announced that the CQ Energy Canada Partnership, the Canadian exploration and production joint venture in which Centrica owned a 60% interest, was to be sold to a consortium comprising MIE Holdings Corporation, The Can-China Global Resource Fund and Mercuria for a purchase price of C$ 722 million (£413 million) in cash. On 21 June 2017, the company agreed to sell its operational Langage and South Humber Bank combined cycle gas turbine power stations, with

3538-598: Was appointed Interim Group Chief Executive of Centrica on 17 March 2020. British Gas was accused of greenwashing in the advertising of its Zero Carbon tariff in January 2008, after the Advertising Standards Authority upheld a complaint about the 'greenest domestic tariff' claim. In July 2011, British Gas was fined £2.5 million by the energy regulator Ofgem for failing to deal properly with customer complaints. Ofgem found that British Gas failed to reopen complaints from customers who indicated they felt

3599-400: Was closed in April 2012. In July 2013, it was announced that Centrica would acquire the energy marketing unit of Hess Corporation for $ 1.03 billion. In March 2014, Centrica acquired the retail arm and other assets belonging to Ireland's state owned Bord Gáis for a fee of around €1.1 billion. In 2010, Centrica entered into joint venture arrangements with Tullow Oil to explore for oil in

3660-404: Was converted into a Mercure Hotel . The building was renovated in 2009 into a 200-room Premier Inn hotel on a 25-year lease after a wide range search by the company for a location in central Cardiff. The hotel was the largest in the city in terms of beds. Sixty thousand square feet (5,600 m) of Helmont House remains dedicated to office space, 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m) of which

3721-639: Was formerly majority-owned by SWM. Centrica plc owns 69% of Spirit Energy, with Bayerngas Norge's former shareholders, led by SWM and Bayerngas GmbH, owning 31%. Sam Laidlaw was the chief executive of Centrica between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2014. In the 2010 financial year Laidlaw received a salary of £941,000 and a bonus of £900,000. Iain Conn was appointed Group Chief Executive of Centrica on 1 January 2015; he had previously been BP 's chief executive, downstream (BP's refining and marketing division) for seven years. Group Chief Financial Officer, Chris O'Shea,

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