Rok to create up to 2,500 skilled jobs in new division

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Rok is creating hundreds of skilled trade jobs after forming a new plumbing, heating and electrical division.

Rok Plumbing Heating and Electrical will create nearly 500 jobs initially and between 2,000 and 2,500 over the next three years.

The division has been formed by bringing together the five plumbing, heating and electrical businesses that Rok has bought over the past two years.

The new business has nearly 900 plumbers and electricians already, mostly in the north of England and Scotland, but it will now expand across the country taking on hundreds of new staff.

Rok currently spends about £250 million a year subcontracting plumbing and e-lectrical work with roughly a quarter of the work on all its building projects falling into those areas.

But bosses said the new division would enable them to keep that money in the business leading to significant recruitment over the next couple of years.

Rok chief executive Garvis Snook said: "We have created this business for a number of reasons. Mechanical and electrical work has traditionally been the biggest source of delay on projects.

"Using our own staff in this area usually ensures a better quality of service and ensures we increase our revenues.

"This type of work also requires maintenance. This means we can lock our customers into long term relationships ensuring repeat business."

Much of the growth will be organic, but Rok does also have money for acquisitions, should the right opportunity come up.

Rok PHE director Donnie Fraser said: "We have really strong plans to spread across the country. We have a strong presence already in Scotland and the north of England and that will be extended throughout the UK, mirroring Rok generally."

"We are going to need to recruit a serious number of trade workers to help our expansion. It is easy to recruit in this current market and you can be more selective."