Utilita Energy Energy chief launches 'public service announcement' for all households

FROM Monday, 4 April 2022, a new national advertising campaign will appear on television screens across Great Britain to help every household cut their energy costs by as much as ₤332; cutting the average energy bill by nearly a fifth. The campaign has been launched after Utilita's own research of 5,000 households revealed that any Government advice on cutting energy usage has failed to reach most households (84%).

With energy price rises hitting all households from 1st April, Utilita Energy has enlisted the support of The Fast Show's iconic Dave Angel to show Britain's households how to:- 'Save Like Dave.' Eco Dave's advice will direct viewers to 5 free and simple ways to cut home energy waste and save as much as ₤332 a year, a 17% saving, on the average household bill.

The month long campaign expects to achieve 170 million impacts between 4 April to 1 May 2022, via TV, online and outdoor spaces.

Bill Bullen, Founder and CEO of Utilita shares his impetus for the 'public service announcement' campaign:- "We are facing a very serious problem in the UK. Fuel poverty is set to take hold of millions more households across Great Britain this coming winter, so we have a small window of opportunity to help households to get into the habit of making simple and free changes now, before the cold weather kicks in. If households do this, they will save hundreds of pounds. Last winter we helped approximately 2,000 customers each day with financial assistance; we expect this could double by next winter. Energy can and will go further with some sensible behaviour change at home, and if the Government isn't telling people how to save, we will."

Jem Maidment, Utilita's Chief Marketing Officer comments on the campaign launch:- "Last winter we piloted the 'Save Like Dave' campaign and it was received extremely well, with 21% of people saying they remembered the advert, which is more than double the industry average. The fuel poverty that millions more households will face this winter would be far better avoided through improved, targeted Government support, but whilst the Treasury is trying to work that bit out, we've created an ad campaign that will help every household to use and pay for less energy."

Dave Angel, Eco Warrior explains his reasons for getting behind the energy saving public service announcement campaign:- "I said it many years ago, 'The world's still turning, but we're not learning' and, quite frankly, I'm gutted that here we are; 25 years later! and still bleating on about changes we need to make. So, I'm talking to you brothers and sisters, and I'm asking YOU to make a change. If you're still wasting energy around the house, remember, the cheapest, greenest energy is the energy we don't use. I'm talking about looking after your pocket and this beautiful planet we call home. Follow this energy saving, 'coz it's a damned good place to start!"

The month long campaign aims to reach every household across:- Great Britain, via TV, online and outdoor activity, as well as Utilita's partner football clubs and entertainment arenas.

The 30 second TV ad will appear across 100 channels, including:- C5, Dave, Gold, and Sky Atlantic.

The 30 second ad and 4 30 second videos educating households on avoiding Standby, washing at 30 degrees, turning off lights in unoccupied rooms and turning the heating down by 1 Degree will be featured online.

The Save Like Dave campaign will be featured on buses in City Centres and residential areas across:- Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Southampton and Edinburgh from 25 April 2022 for 4weeks.

For an extended 12 week period, Utilita Birmingham, Sheffield and Newcastle Arenas will display Save Like Dave collateral across their sites. Birmingham Arena and Sheffield Parkway will display external digital boards, too resulting in an estimated 8.3m reach.

Utilita's 17 partner football clubs will feature the Save Like Dave campaign via digital screens, programmes and email shots.

Utilita turned to comedy specialists Mister Tibbs to produce the campaign. Mister Tibbs have built their reputation delivering commercials and content to household brands like:- Comic Relief, Virgin Trains, Mitsubishi, Cadbury, The Guardian, and The National Lottery, and flagship broadcasters including the:- BBC, Channel 4 and Comedy Central.

Mister Tibbs' Founder Sami Abusamra stepped up to direct the commercial as well as a handful of social pieces. He comments:- "When we were first approached about this project, I don't think we could've said yes any quicker. I grew up watching The Fast Show, so to direct Simon Day; playing Dave Angel; was once in a lifetime stuff. We can't thank Utilita enough for bringing the project our way and can't wait for the nation to start saving."

Star of ITV drama The Royal 'Amy Robbins plays Dave's not so energy efficient wife, Shirley, in the advert. All clips can be viewed at- Utilita.Co.UK/SaveLikeDave

Dave's energy saving tips are based on Utilita hugely successful, award winning #EnergyHigh5 campaign:- Utilita.Co.UK/EnergyHigh5.

Since launching in January 2020, the campaign has reached an estimated 4m UK households and was recognised this week as the UK's best sustainability marketing campaign by the prestigious Edie Sustainable Leaders Awards.

Utilita enlisted the services of AMS Media Group to help plan the campaign and its media buying strategy.

The City of Liverpool College and Vital Energi join forces to support net zero targets

VITAL Energi has partnered with The City of Liverpool College for the 2nd year to deliver bespoke renewable energy and heat network apprenticeship programmes across the country.  Scaling up heat networks and generating energy from renewable technologies is at the heart of the Government's plans to boost the UK's energy security and achieve the country's Net Zero target by 2050. To achieve this, 18% of heat will need to come from heat networks. As it stands today, connections to heat networks represents just 2%, so we need the resource and skills to deliver this infrastructure. In response to this, Vital; which has over 30 years' experience in delivering heat networks; is joining forces with The City of Liverpool College, which will deliver the curriculum from the ₤2m state of the art Training Academy located at Vital's Blackburn headquarters, for 2 pathways: Craft and Technical. Both pathways will enable apprentices to learn and work within the renewable energy and heat networks market. They will discover how energy is generated and distributed, and how to manage and reduce consumption for residential and commercial clients. Apprentices will also learn how carbon emissions are reduced through Vital's renewable technologies and the innovative products they have developed. The initiative follows an incredibly successful 1st year for the programmes, which demonstrate the organisations' commitments to developing the key industry skills required to achieve net zero and create a sustainable workforce to shape the energy landscape for the future. Liverpool City Region has an ambition to reach net zero carbon by 2040 and The City of Liverpool College is focussed on developing its curriculum around the needs of industry, creating a workforce for the future by developing the skills needed to enter the world of work in sustainable careers.

Lindsay Meadows, Head of Apprenticeships at The City of Liverpool College, said:- "Our partnership with Vital Energi is built on the knowledge and skills of its engineers and our innovative curriculum leaders at The City of Liverpool College. Working with progressive, exciting organisations such as Vital Energi helps us to continue to innovate and provide our students with the skills they need to enter the workforce and forge successful, sustainable careers. The apprentieships will play an essential role in developing the skills needed to deliver our low carbon future, while giving apprentices the skills and knowledge they need to thrive and forge sustainable careers in the industry."

The programmes will be delivered via a blended mix of virtual online teaching and a minimum of 25 days curriculum learning each year within the Training Academy. Apprentices will spend the majority of their time on-site working on real projects, where they will pick up a wealth of skills through hands on experience and support from Vital's expert team. During the 3 year Craft programme, apprentices will study for a Level 3 Building Services Engineering Craftsperson qualification. They will learn a range of key skills from pipework fabrication and jointing techniques such as electro fusion jointing, to welding, the installation of plumbing and heating systems, and more. At the end of the Technical programme, apprentices will achieve a Level 3 Building Services Design Technician qualification, after developing their understanding of building services design principles.

Chris Roach, a site based Project Manager at Vital Energi, started his career journey at The City of Liverpool College when he was 18 years old, where he completed a 4 year Mechanical Building Engineering apprenticeship. He studied Building Services Engineering in the 1st 2 years before focussing on Mechanical Building Services Engineering in the last 2.  As well as achieving a HND, Chris won the North West HVAC Student Engineer of the year in 2005, and the National CIBSE HVAC Student Engineer of the year in 2005. His hard work and determination throughout his apprenticeship formed a solid platform for his future career. Chris Roach, Project Manager at Vital Energi, said:- "I thoroughly enjoyed my time as an apprentice at The City of Liverpool College, and as well as gaining a wealth of skills through hands on experience and support from tutors, it allowed me to discover the career path I wanted to follow. I strongly believe that my apprenticeship formed a great foundation for my career path. Here at Vital, we're working on exciting projects across the whole of the UK to help our clients reach net zero. We've connected over 82,000 homes to heat networks so far and in my opinion, there is no better time to join us!"

During the 3 year Craft programme, apprentices will study for a Level 3 Building Services Engineering Craftsperson qualification. They will learn a range of key skills from pipework fabrication and jointing techniques such as electro fusion jointing, to welding, the installation of plumbing and heating systems, and more. On his experience of the programme, Harvey Hudson, Technical Apprentice, commented:- "As well as a better understanding of the job and career, spending time in a variety of departments has helped broaden my knowledge of the industry and the many different aspects required for a successful project. I'm also able to gain valuable, practical experience and learn from site based professionals, which I know will help me to hit the ground running in my career."

At the end of the Technical programme, apprentices will achieve a Level 3 Building Services Design Technician qualification, after developing their understanding of building services design principles. Vital Energi is working on nationwide projects and are looking to recruit apprentices from all over the UK. To find out more about the apprenticeship programmes and to apply, visit:- VitalEnergi.Co.UK.