MORE than 15,000 utility workers will look to the North-East for the answer to their employment queries from today.

National Grid Transco has launched its new human resources service, ContactHR, at Norgas House, in Killingworth, Tyneside.

The operation will bring 50 staff, comprising a combination of new starters and people redeployed from within the company.

ContactHR will operate a dedicated helpline and is expected to handle between 200 and 500 calls a day.

Norgas House, formerly the regional headquarters of Northern Gas, is also home to all of National Grid Transco's payments, claims handling and banking and controls activities, as well as call centre facilities.

About 800 people now work at the site.