Opus Energy

Opus Energy Limited

Type	Private
Industry	Utilities
Founded	2002
Headquarters	Drax Power Station, England, UK
Key people	Dorothy Thompson,(Chief Executive) Jonathan Kini(Director)
Products	Electricity Gas
Revenue	£524.3 million
Operating income	£38.2 million
Net income	£30.4 million
Number of employees	860 (January 2017)
Website	Opus Energy

Opus Energy Limited was established in 2001 as Oxford Power Holdings Limited, it was renamed on 28 October 2010. Opus Energy Limited supplies gas and electricity to businesses across the United Kingdom. It purchases electricity from wind, solar, hydro, and AD generators, and provides support to develop energy-generating sites. It is headquartered in Northampton, United Kingdom with an additional office in Oxford. Opus Energy Limited operates as a subsidiary of Opus Energy Group Ltd. On 6 December 2016 it was announced that Opus Energy had entered into a binding conditional agreement for the sale of the entire issues share capital to Drax Developments Limited, a member of the Drax Group.^[1] The deal completed on 10 February 2017.^[2] In July 2017, Opus Energy was announced as a finalist in the 2017 Lloyds Bank National Business Awards; shortlisted in The Smith & Williamson Scale-Up Business of the Year category.

Operations

Opus Energy Limited sources its electricity from renewable sources, natural gas (cleaner CHP), natural gas (CCGT), and coal. Between April 2013 and March 2014, 91% of energy supplied to Opus Energy customers came from cleaner, low-carbon sources.^[3]

Opus Energy provides a power purchase agreement product whereby it offers to buy excess power from companies who create their own renewable energy.^[4]

Sponsorship and Fundraising

In 2009 Opus Energy Limited began sponsoring a pommel horse gymnast, Daniel Keatings^[5] and in August 2013 began sponsoring Chantelle Cameron, a Northampton local and member of the GB Boxing women’s squad.^[6] Both have high hopes of making it to the Olympics 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.^[7][8]

In early 2014, cyclist Lauryn Therin joined Opus Energy’s team of sponsored athletes.^[9] Lauryn joined the GB Para-cycling team as a tandem pilot for the visually impaired cycling squad, and is currently paired with Lora Turnham.^[10] Opus Energy were also named back-of-shirt sponsors of Northampton Town Football Club in January 2015, a sports team local to the Opus Energy headquarters.^[11]

Opus Energy continues to support multiple charities each year, favouring local causes chosen by employees. Most recently, Opus Energy raised nearly £45,000 for Mencap^[12] and in 2012 delivered over £100,000 to a selection causes including the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the Oxford Food Bank.^[13] In 2015, Opus Energy employees have pledged to raise money for Rainbows Children's Hospice Loughborough, Guide Dogs and Beating Bowel Cancer.^[14]

Awards

• Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250: League table #6 ranking 2016^[15]
• The Real IT Awards 2015: Innovation in Business (May 2015)^[16]
• The Sunday Times: #87 UK’s Best Companies to Work For 2015 list (Feb 2015)^[17]
• Datamonitor B2B Energy Buyer Customer Satisfaction 2014: Ranked 1st for SME customer service (Oct 2014)^[18]
• Customer First UK: Putting the Customer First accreditation (Oct 2014)^[19]
• CIPD People Management Awards: Building HR Capability shortlist (July 2013)^[20]
• National Apprenticeship Awards: Newcomer Employer of the Year shortlist (July 2013)^[21]
• Investec Hot 100: League table #95 ranking (June 2013)^[22]
• HR Excellence Awards 2013: Most Effective Recruitment and Retention shortlist (April 2013)^[23]
• Datamonitor’s 2012 B2B Customer Satisfaction Survey: Ranked 1st for SME customer service (March 2013)^[24]

Criticism

Opus Energy have a rating of 1.5 out of 10 (Bad) on Trustpilot. ^[25]

Small and medium business

In 2014, Opus Energy ran a campaign focussing on small and medium-sized enterprises, with the message, “We put more into your business.”^[26] This was supported with the launch of Opus Energy Gift, an online business magazine offering SME-specific advice, tips and news.^[27] This is now known as Brighter Business.^[28] To announce this launch, Opus Energy gave a £10,000 ‘Business Boost’ prize to one small or medium business that entered the kick-off competition, who received the prize at the start of 2015.^[29] 2015 will also see Opus Energy come on board as an official supporter of Small Business Saturday UK.

Careers

Since its start in 2002, Opus Energy has grown to hire over 600 employees located in offices in Northampton and Oxford. Employee satisfaction is a priority, acknowledged after being the only company with headquarters in Northampton to rank on The Sunday Times’ UK Best Companies to Work For list in 2015.^[30]

All employees at Opus Energy benefit from a bi-annual bonus (up to 10% of salary), 30 days holiday per year, a company-matched pension scheme, private medical insurance, retail discounts, life assurance and a confidential employee assistance programme. On top of this, all employees can choose from a range of flexible benefits which are subsidised by the company, including buying or selling annual leave, childcare vouchers, critical illness cover and dental insurance for employee and their partner, spouse or children, travel insurance, and more.^[31]

In 2012, Opus Energy started an Apprenticeship Programme, which offers apprentices a salaried company position, a QCF level 2 or 3 qualification and full employee benefits over the length of a year. It has since expanded to offer apprenticeships in multiple areas within the company.^[32]

References