Bolton jobseekers are set to benefit from a recruitment drive by one of the UK's biggest energy suppliers.

E.on Next has said it plans to hire another 1,300 people as it looks to strengthen its customer support operations.

The business says that some of these roles – which are permanent positions – will be based in Bolton.

It is hiring specialist workers who are trained to look after residential and small business customers. People who are tasked with helping customers through social media will also be hired during the recruitment push.

The business is also looking for staff to help recruit new customers and others who specialise in different areas, including supporting customers with prepayment meters.

“We do things a little differently at E.on Next," said Ramona Vlasiu, the company’s chief operating officer.

"Our energy specialists are dedicated to caring for their own group of customers so they can get to know them better and do more to help them, which is all the more important in these challenging times.

“We would love to hear from people who are passionate about providing excellent service.

"Previous experience of the energy industry is not essential but the desire to care for our customers and help us continually improve our business is.”

The customer service system is based around the technology that E.on licenses from Octopus Energy.

E.on is one of the biggest suppliers in the country, and services around 5.5m customers across Great Britain.

Chief people officer Chris Norbury said: “These roles provide a great opportunity for people to join our business and help us drive the energy transition towards a smarter and more sustainable future.

“We are proud to have been accredited as one of the UK’s top 50 inclusive employers for the past six years in a row because we believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels respected and valued – a place where everyone is empowered to develop and thrive and to be the best they can.”