STAFF at a Bournemouth employer are being given £200 a month to help them pay their soaring energy bills.

Telecommunications firm 4Com says the “energy support bonus” will be paid to all its 431 employees until further notice.

The move follows forecasts that average energy bills could reach more than £4,000 a year from January.

The announcement was made by 4Com chairman Daron Hutt at a monthly briefing for all staff.

He said: “I said a couple of months ago that we wanted to be able to help if costs rose, and we are now seeing the situation with energy costs crystallising.

“We’ve built a truly fantastic team here, and the combined efforts of everyone have helped the company continue to grow.

“Thanks to that growth, we’re in a position where we can help offset some of the price rises that are clearly coming.

“What we are putting into place, effective immediately, is an Energy Support Bonus, whereby each and every person in the company will receive an increase of £200 a month in their payslips until further notice.”

Chief executive Gary Scutt said: “Our priority with our Energy Support Bonus is supporting the team we’ve built here over the years; they’re our most valuable asset.

“We are also continuing to grow at a rapid pace, with over 50 roles currently available; this bonus will be extended to all staff joining 4Com moving forwards.”

4Com provides telecommunications technology to small and medium sized businesses from its HQ at Lansdowne Plaza in Christchurch Road.

It was founded in 1999 and provides a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone system.

It came top on the list of the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work for in 2017.

4Com’s help for staff comes as financial pressure grows on millions of families, with inflation at its highest since 1982.

The energy price cap, which regulates what more than 20million households pay for their power, is expected to reach around £3,635 in October – an 84 per cent rise on the current record high.

It is set to rise again in January.

The Bank of England expects inflation to peak later this year aat 13.3 per cent and to push the uK into a recession.