The Conservatives have promised a boost in energy jobs if they are successful at the next election, by rolling out home energy efficiency improvements across the UK to the tune of £6,500.

Want an utilities jobs? Visit our CV Advice and Tips page.

Writing in The Guardian, shadow energy and climate change secretary Greg Clark said homeowners would be entitled to an independent assessment of improvements that could save energy and money, with trials rolled out on a "street-by-street basis, targeting first those people most in need".

He added that that the Mayor of London and 14 local councils - covering more than six million homes - have provisionally agreed to trial the scheme next year, with financing from banks.

The scheme would also create 36,000 jobs directly, said Mr Clark, and a further 42,000 indirectly in the energy efficiency supply chain.

Meanwhile, businesses working in the energy sector are being invited to compete for a share of a £2.75 million budget to install energy efficient technologies in some of Gordon Brown's main departments at Whitehall.