Green energy supplier Ecotricity won ‘Company of the Year’ at the Growing Business Awards in London last night.
In a ceremony which kick-started the 2011 ‘Global Entrepreneurship Week’, the awards recognise UK independent and entrepreneurial businesses. Previous winners include LOVEfilm and lastminute.com.
Ecotricity claimed first prize in the ‘Company of the Year’ category, which recognises “world-class, independently owned, UK-based companies”.
Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “Ecotricity’s mission is to change where Britain’s energy comes from – to bring about energy independence and sustainability.
“We have a radical business model where customers are valued, ethical business is the norm, and people and planet come before profits.
“Rather than pay dividends to outside shareholders, Ecotricity uses its profits to build new sources of green energy – it’s what we call turning bills into windmills.”
The award recognised the success of Ecotricity’s customer service, innovative financing with ecobonds (the second version of which was launched recently to broad acclaim), solar energy, electric vehicle charging network, and growth as a business.
The award follows on from Ecotricity winning ‘Best Independent Supplier’ at the Energy ‘Buying and Supplying’ Excellence Awards in London last week.
Ecotricity surpassed other suppliers in the UK gas and power market for its innovative ‘not-for-dividend’ business model and pioneering attitude to customer service.
About Ecotricity:
Britain’s leading green energy company, Ecotricity was founded 15 years’ ago when, in 1996, it founded the UK’s green electricity market and movement. A ‘not for dividend’ company with no outside shareholders to answer to, it now powers over 55,000 homes and businesses in the UK from its fleet of 53 windmills, invests more per capita in building new sources of green energy than any other UK company and is the only energy supplier supported by Oxfam and the Soil Association.
Ecotricity was recognised for:
• Customer Service: All contact centre phone menus, targets and scripts have been phased out, so staff can take as much time as the customer needs to listen and resolve their enquiry without any pressure. This works; A recent survey we carried out of our customers (June-August 2011) found that 88% rated the quality of the service received as ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’, a record unmatched in the utility (or almost any other) sector. On top of this, Ecotricity’s first-time resolution when contacted is now 86% (survey carried out Jun-Aug 2011), which reflects exceptionally low complaint volumes of less than 0.35% of our contact volumes month-on-month.
• Innovative Financing: A remarkable step forward for the UK utilities industry was Ecotricity’s innovative ‘ecobond’, proof that profit and growth can work together with the environment and society. The ecobond one allowed people to share in the benefits of the green energy revolution, by cutting out the banking middle men that offer poor rates, while generating £10 million for new projects. By the offer deadline, more than 1,800 people had between them applied and ecobonds were oversubscribed by nearly 50%. ecobond two launched recently and closes on the 16th December, aiming to raise another £10million for green energy investment.
• UK’s 1st Solar Energy: The first project to benefit from ecobonds was the launch of Britain’s first sunpark. Located at Fen Farm, Lincolnshire, this was the first energy park in the world to combine the energy of both the wind and the sun into one. This hybrid park is a pioneering step forward in renewable energy production, set to make enough green electricity for nearly 300 typical homes each year for the next 25 years. Ecotricity’s wind park, on the same site near Louth on the Lincolnshire Fens, has 20 windmills generating 16 MW. It has been producing enough green energy each year to power over 10,000 homes (each year), since 2008.
• Electric Highway: Ecotricity’s sustainable philosophy extends beyond just energy into the other key issues of sustainable transport and food. Following the launch of its all British-built electric sports car the Nemesis, Ecotricity set about answering the other half of the electric car question – where to charge. This year saw the launch of the ‘Electric Highway’, the world’s first nationwide motorway charging network for electric cars, enabling users to travel the length and breadth of Britain powered completely by green energy, and all for free! Ecotricity has teamed up with Welcome Break to establish a network of charging points at its motorway services throughout the UK. The first top up point was unveiled at South Mimms in July 2011 and by the end of November 2011, 12 ‘top-up-zones’ will be available around the country. Within 18 months, all 27 Welcome Break motorway services across Britain will have charging points, removing ‘range anxiety’ and accelerating the take-up of electric vehicles in the UK.
• Green Business: Many of Ecotricity’s staff joined because of its green credentials, and in 2011 the company became the first utility in Britain to earn the ‘gold standard’ EMAS European environmental accreditation. Ecotricity also rewards staff with its annual ‘Windstock’ party underneath its nearby wind turbine at Nympsfield.
• Growing Business: With a turnover of £44 million in 2010/11 and a 30% growth in customer numbers in the last 12 months, Ecotricity is not only a model of sustainability and innovation, it is a hugely successful business. It is a market leader and a model of what business can be; ‘good’ on every level.
for more information, please contact:
Stuart Brennan or Kate Beioley, Ecotricity
press.office@ecotricity.co.uk or (01453) 761318
