ENERGY sector jobs have been saved following the collapse of a North-East operator.

Together Energy yesterday revealed it has taken on 20 workers from Newcastle’s Future Energy after the latter ceased trading last week.

Paul Richards, Together Energy chief executive, said: “By taking on the team at Future Energy, our business in Scotland can have a new, bigger future through expansion into North-East England and Yorkshire.

“Not only will we secure the future of the staff, we have also ensured everyone will get their January salary.”

Those workers include single parent Debra Smith, from Sunderland.

She said: “I can’t believe this has happened. We are all so happy and relieved.”

After Future Energy ceased trading, industry watchdog Ofgem chose Green Star Energy to take over its customers.

Bosses at Future Energy, which only got its licence in 2015, cited a tough market for its failure, saying its customer base had proven too weak to sustain its challenge to the so-called Big Six suppliers.

The business was the brainchild of North-East entrepreneur Tim Cantle-Jones.