Centrica’s Local Heroes service has expanded into the Republic of Ireland, the company has announced today (23 July).
The digital service helps customers to connect with trusted local tradespeople and has so far completed 50,000 jobs since its UK nationwide launch in June last year. It followed regional pilots from early 2016.
The Irish scheme includes plumbing and heating services and will operate out of north Dublin. More trades and locations in Ireland will be added in due course.
Tradespeople in the Local Heroes network are qualified, accredited and insured and all undertaken work is backed by a 12-month Bord Gáis Energy guarantee.
It is estimated that the on-demand home services market in Ireland will be worth around £1 billion by 2020 and Centrica says it provides the “perfect solution” for an increasing number of people who want a digital and pain-free solution when it comes to completing household projects.
In April this year the company announced it was adding new trades to its Local Heroes network meaning painters, decorators, locksmiths, tilers and handymen and women will be included.
Mark Hodges, chief executive of Centrica Consumer, said: “Over the past year, we’ve worked hard to connect our customers in the UK with quality, local tradespeople they can trust and we want to do the same in Ireland.
“This expansion is also part of our strategy to offer home services that are aligned to the changing needs of our customers across the global markets in which we already have a presence.”
Catherine O’Kelly is to take the helm at Bord Gáis Energy in September. She will replace Dave Kirwan, who will become managing director of customer operations at its UK parent company, Centrica.