The new British Gas Energy Academy in Leicester was officially opened yesterday by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He said: "It is very exciting to see new technologies, such as smart meters, which will help UK households save and manage energy, and reduce their carbon emissions."

And, congratulating the Academy's first intake of trainee engineers, he said: "You have done extremely well to gain your places on this British Gas training programme, which I know is very tough to join. By learning to install the technologies of the future, you will be playing your part in helping the UK tackle climate change."

Welcoming the Prime Minister to the new Academy, British Gas Managing Director, Phil Bentley said: "At our new British Gas Energy Academy in Leicester we are investing in the engineers, the skills and the technologies of the future. We were delighted to welcome the Prime Minister here today so he could see first-hand the first rate facilities, where our first-rate engineers will be trained.

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"British Gas is preparing to lead the roll-out of smart meters across the country. Our announcement of 2,600 new jobs by 2012 shows we are committed to creating skilled green jobs in Britain and training the experts who will help customers become more energy efficient in the future - cutting their carbon emissions and their fuel bills."

British Gas's new facility in Leicester is one of five training sites around the country, which form the British Gas Energy Academy.

The opening came on the same day British Gas announced the creation of 2,600 new jobs by 2012 to deliver its smart metering programme. The new jobs include 2,100 smart energy experts who will install smart meters and advise customers on saving and generating their own energy.

The 2,600 new jobs at British Gas are in addition to the 1,500 new jobs the company announced earlier this year.

(CD/JM)