The job losses are part of an expected £200 million ($284 million) of efficiency savings in 2016 towards Centrica’s £750 million per annum cost efficiency programme.

Centrica, however, did not specifywhich parts of the company would be affected by the cuts.  

GMB, the union for energy workers said: “Staff are confused and disillusioned, managers don't know if they're staying or going and the only word from the top is cut, cut, cut.”

Meanwhile,