Opus Energy

Opus Energy Limited
Private
Industry Utilities
Founded 2002
Headquarters Drax Power Station, England, UK
Key people
 Dorothy Thompson,(Chief Executive)
Jonathan Kini(Director)
Products Electricity Gas
Number of employees
 860 (January 2017)
Parent Drax Group
Website Opus Energy

Opus Energy Limited supplies gas and electricity to businesses across the United Kingdom. It purchases electricity from wind, solar, hydro, and anaerobic digestion generators, and provides support to develop energy-generating sites. It is headquartered in Northampton, United Kingdom with an additional office in Oxford.

History

The company was established in 2001 as Oxford Power Holdings Limited; it was renamed on 28 October 2010. 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]

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]

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

  1. ↑ Reuters (2016-12-06). "Drax moves away from coal to bid on Opus Energy and gas plants". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  2. ↑ "Preliminary results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2016" (PDF). Drax Group. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-07-03. The Opus acquisition was a major transaction and was subject to shareholder approval. The acquisition was approved by shareholders on 8 February 2017 and completed on the 10 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Energy disclosure labels". Opus Energy. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Research suggests SMEs favouring on site renewable energy". Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "Keatings gains sponsorship deal". BBC Sport. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "Opus Energy announces sponsorship of Chantelle Cameron, young British boxing star". PR Web. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "London 2012: Gymnast Daniel Keatings admits omission anger". BBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Chantelle Cameron: The Olympic boxing hopeful with an MMA dream". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Fundraising and Sponsorship". Opus Energy Community. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "GB Cycling Team Rider Biography". British Cycling. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "Major back of shirt partnership with Opus Energy announced". Northampton Town FC. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Opus Energy's year of fundraising provides boost for Mencap". East Midlands Business News. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Opus Energy powers charitable causes with over £100K in 2012". Source Wire News Distribution. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "Opus Energy announces new charity partners for 2015!". Opus Energy Community. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  15. ↑ TWK. "League table - Fast Track". Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  16. ↑ "Award-winning innovation from Opus Energy Broker Pricing Portal". Midlands Business News. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  17. ↑ "The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For 2015". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  18. ↑ "Independent suppliers top B2B customer satisfaction survey". Utility Week. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  19. ↑ "Opus Energy named top company to work for". Northamptonshire Chamber. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  20. ↑ "CIPD People Management Awards 2013 unveils finalists". CIPD. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  21. ↑ "Opus Energy careers recognised by nationwide awards". Opus Energy News. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  22. ↑ "Hot 100 2013 number 95 is Opus Energy Group, a business gas and electricity provider". Real Business. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  23. ↑ "HR Excellence Awards 2013: The shortlist". HR Magazine. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  24. ↑ "Datamonitor's 2012 B2B Customer Satisfaction Survey: The Big Six Fall Further Behind". Datamonitor Energy. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  25. ↑ "Opus Energy Reviews". Trustpilot. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  26. ↑ "Opus Energy aims to surprise business customers with integrated campaign created by McCann Birmingham". The Drum. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  27. ↑ "Opus Energy Gift". Opus Energy Gift. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  28. ↑ "Brighter Business". Brighter Business. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  29. ↑ "Case study: Opus Energy reaches out to SMEs via competition". B2B Marketing. Missing or empty |url= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  30. ↑ "Northampton energy supplier features in Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list". Northants Telegraph. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "Working at Opus Energy". Opus Energy. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  32. ↑ "Apprenticeship Programme". Opus Energy. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
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