Future Energy Solutions is helping to train a new generation to fit the nation's smart electricity and gas meters.

The Newcastle-based company is offering big discounts for SMEs who attend its new state-of-the-art training centre in the city. These discounts apply to trainees from businesses employing 49 or fewer people, if they complete their accredited meter installation training before mid December.

Qualification from the course opens the door for newly qualified meter installers to join the drive to install smart meters in every home in the country by 2020. The courses are aimed primarily at trained electricians and gas installers in the north of England and Scotland.

Future Energy is the brainchild of North East entrepreneur Tim Cantle-Jones, who said: “This is a really exciting time in the power supply industry, and our aim is to be in the vanguard and help create an army of installers in the North East to lead the national drive to get smart meters into every home and business.”

Future Energy’s training uses meters manufactured by EDMI. Nick Walton, technical consultant at EDMI, said: “We are delighted to be working with Future Energy Solutions. Our smart meters work by communicating directly with the energy supplier, ensuring bills are based on accurate readings, rather than estimates. They also allow customers to track their energy usage in real-time.”