| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Traded as | LSE: TEP |
| Industry | Public utility |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | London, England, UK |
| Key people | Charles Wigoder,(Executive Chairman) Andrew Lindsay (CEO) |
| Products | Landline telephony, mobile telephony, broadband, gas, electricity. |
| Employees | 450-500 (2011) |
| Website | Utility Warehouse |
Telecom Plus PLC (LSE: TEP) is a multi-utility supplier based in the United Kingdom. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
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The Company was founded in 1996 as a telecommunications business. Its first product, launched in 1997, was a least cost call routing 'Smart Box', a gadget that plugs into a phone socket and then routes the calls to alternative networks at a cheaper rate than British Telecom.[1] Since then, the company has added to its portfolio: a full landline telephony service, mobile telephony (piggybacked on the T-Mobile network), broadband, gas and electricity (the company is licensed by OFGEM), and a CashBack card (a pre-paid Mastercard).
To date, the business has grown to over 375,000 domestic and small-business customers, around 30,000 of whom are also Distributors, signing up new customers under a Multi-level marketing scheme in return for a residual income.[2]
In March 2009 the Company was awarded the prestigious title of "Company of the Year" at the Quoted Company Awards annual dinner.[3]
In February 2011, Which? magazine named the Utility Warehouse as the UK's 'Best Energy Supplier' for the third year in a row. It also names the company Recommended Provider for Home Phone. Which? named the Utility Warehouse 'Recommended Provider' for Broadband in September 2010, and awarded it a 'Best Buy' for Home Phone and Broadband in Dec 2008, Feb 2010 (renewed in August 2010).[4]
Trading as The Utility Warehouse, Telecom Plus has no shops and does not advertise on television or in the national press. The entire operation (including call centres) is based in North London, with around 450-500 staff.