Surprise winner for energy consultancy of the year!

Phil Black - PII Editor 23/06/2014

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A fabulous second year for The Energy Live Consultancy Awards (TELCAs) was rounded off with a surprise twist – a tied winner for the biggest prize of the night.

Large Consultancy of the Year backed by headline sponsor npower had 10 possible contenders.

Last year’s winner Schneider Electric shared their podium place with Utilyx after the torn judges decided they were equally deserving of the consultancy crown.
The awards come at a time when energy consultancies are under the spotlight, with Ofgem mulling stiffer regulation to boot out the cowboys who don’t play by the rules.
That’s why the TELCAs were set up to shine a light on the good work done by many in the business.

Editor and co-founder of Energy Live News, ex-BBC maverick Sumit Bose hosted the eye-catching ceremony at the BFI on Thursday evening (19th June 2014).

Start Energy were flying high after they won Small Consultancy of the Year award sponsored by npower for being the best all-rounder. Though they didn”t win, Hotel Energy were applauded for being an excellent niche player and Fathom mentioned for their Northern Ireland focus.
Schneider Electric picked up a second trophy, the British Gas Business award for Best Advice, narrowly snatching it from the grasp of Utility Bidder and The Energy Brokers with their commitment to benchmarking.

Utilyx snapped up a second too for I&C Most Trusted (sponsored by Scottish Power), displaying clear examples and customer endorsements.

Another double winner was LSI Utility Brokers, taking home CNG sponsored gong for SME Best Customer Service and SME Most Trusted (sponsored Gazprom Energy UK). Judges praised their concrete evidence on how customer service is delivered and jargon-free explanations.

The Best Customer Service trophy for the I&C sector (sponsored by GDF SUEZ UK) went to EIC, the consultancy recently brought into the stable of Utilitywise, with mention going to EIC”s detailed but realistic customer charter.

Make It Cheaper repeated their 2013 triumph, returning to bag the Consumer Champion award sponsored by Haven Power, by showing how they put customers at the heart of their business.
Everything was pretty rosy for consultancy Orchard Energy, plucking the Rising Star gong (sponsored by Hudson Energy) in a closely-contested battle.

There was no getting into a flap for Indigo Swan who won I&C Most Innovative (sponsored by Opus Energy) while Inenco Direct picked up the Most Innovative gong for its work with SMEs.

One of several new awards this year, the Green Energy Champion went to energyexcel llp, with judges impressed by a commitment to embedding themselves into the client and their “brainstorming approach”.

Sales Professional of the Year was another addition in 2014, recognising the people who keep a business “healthy and strong” as sponsor McLean Ross said.
Two women and three men jockeyed for the title and judges were refreshingly surprised by their modesty. Bragging rights eventually went to Richard Bennett of UES Energy for his open and honest approach.

Shining a light on those who might not otherwise be seen, the shortlist for new Unsung Hero award (sponsored by EDF Energy) was full of great, personal stories but Lyn Barnes of Select Energy Direct was the well-deserved winner.

Enjoying the night on the boat after the awards ceremony, Jodie Eaton, Director of I&C at npower said: “It’s been such a fantastic evening. I’ve seen customers this evening, energy consultants, brokers so it’s really great to see that everyone is actually working together to get the customer at the heart of everything we do.

“I think we saw that passion at the awards ceremony. The energy consultants and brokers are really working in partnership with the suppliers and npower is so passionate about working with those brokers and consultants and I think it’s a great partnership to be in.”

Taking home two gongs, Jo Butlin, Managing Director at Utilyx said:

“A fantastic achievement and we’re really on our way. I’ve got such a great team behind me and actually we’re doing great things for our customers so I’m immensely proud.”

Bagging the Large Consultancy award for the second year running, Philippe Diez, in charge of energy and sustainability services for Schneider Electric in EMEA, gives some tips to becoming a great energy consultant: “You need to understand the customers’ pains and be innovative in proposing solutions and do it in a very trusted and honest manner. So that’s in a way, putting yourself in the shoes of your customers. We need to be humble as consultants to be able to understand what matters to your customers.”