Centrica has added new trades to Local Heroes – its digital service which helps customers find trusted tradespeople – in a bid to strengthen its position in the £5.7 billion on-demand home services market.
Painters, decorators, locksmiths, tilers and handymen and women will join the list, which already connects customers with 7,000 plumbing, heating, electrical and draining experts across the country.
Tradespeople in the Local Heroes network are qualified, accredited and insured. Price estimates are provided before work starts and work undertaken is backed by a 12-month British Gas guarantee.
Mat Moakes, Local Heroes director, said: “Through Local Heroes, Centrica is now providing home services that go beyond its traditional boiler repair, electrics and plumbing offering. This means that we’re able to give people more choice when it comes to finding a trusted tradesperson to carry out work in their home.
“Since our launch, we’ve seen that people place real value on a quality service backed by the peace of mind that a British Gas guarantee can provide. It’s the reason why we’re going to continue to invest in technology to enhance the service that customers receive.”
More than 30,000 Local Heroes jobs have been booked since the service launched in January 2016.
Utility Week explores the allure of home services for energy retailers in a premium report.