Thank you to our directors for a great summer party last week, we’re all rested, recovered and ready to smash the rest of the year! 🤩

Summer Party photos pending 🎳⛳

We are closing at 12pm on Friday 25^th July to take our colleagues out for our annual summer party! Everyone has worked so hard this year and we’re looking forward to celebrating with our team 🥳

Please email [email protected] for any urgent queries and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Otherwise, we’ll be open from 9am as usual on Monday 28^th 👩🏻‍💻

Have you heard the old folklore about St Swithin’s Day? The story goes; whatever the weather is like on the day, it will continue for the next 40 days and 40 nights. Of course, there is no evidence to support the claim but it still remains cemented in local lore. ☔⛅

Something else we hear often is that solar panels only work if the sun is shining. This has been debunked time and time again but people still believe it to be true! It’s true that direct sunlight is best for solar energy, but even on cloudy days, solar panels still generate clean and efficient electricity. Visible light, UV light and infrared light still get through. 🌞

Let’s break down a few more common myths about Solar.

🏠 “I don’t have the space on my roof for it” Roof-mounted solar isn’t your only option, there is also ground-mounted which is perfect for any underused land space. Solar car canopies are ideal for EV charging, providing electric, shade and shelter for your car.

💰 “Solar is too expensive” Solar is not as expensive as it once was, and there are many different options available for businesses and individuals. Local grants, finance arrangements, and when you’re generating your own electricity you could save up to 50% on your energy bills, helping you to cut costs long term.

💡”Solar technology is constantly improving, we’re best to wait” Are you still making calls on your Nokia phone waiting for them to finally stop bringing out new iPhones? A well maintained Solar system can last over 25 years, if you select the right system from tier 1 manufacturers, they’re built to last for decades.

Hopefully, this post has helped shed some (sun)light on reasons why it would be beneficial to begin your solar journey. From design to install to maintenance, we are here every step of the way. 🫱🏼‍🫲🏼

To get in touch with one of our team members today, call 0116 366 7981 or email [email protected] for more information. 📞

Let’s hope for sunshine today so we get 40 glorious days, ready to power up all those solar panels. 😉

This year the focus is on ending plastic pollution. For decades, plastic pollution has become more and more harmful to our world. It’s in the water we drink, the food we eat, and our bodies. Whilst a major concern, it is also one of the most fixable problems, compared to other environmental challenges. 🌳

Refuse
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Rethink.

The choices we make can shape industries, shift markets and define our collective future. Change happens through all of us and together, we can deliver an end to plastic pollution that protects the planet and everyone in it. ♻️

The theme for this year is “Tea and Fair Trade”, to highlight the importance of where tea is grown and promoting fair trade practices that benefit the producers, helping to combat poverty. Grown in over 60 countries, there are more than 13 million people employed in the global tea industry, many of these are small scale farmers. 👨🏻‍🌾

Did you know that tea is the most widely consumed drink in the world after water? Discovered over 5,000 years ago in China, tea provides refreshment and relaxation, giving you a moment of calm and relief from stress and tension. Tea also holds various health benefits, there is a tea for everything! 🫖

💤 Help with sleep – Chamomile
😮‍💨 Relaxation & stress – Lavender
💪🏻 Boosting Immunity – Elderberry
🍵 Digestion – Peppermint
🤧 Allergy relief – Nettle
🫚 Anti-inflammatory – Ginger
👩🏻‍💻 Mental focus – Matcha green

We’ve started off the morning with a selection of tea and biscuits for the team to help them get going! 🍪

(And we’re not even going to open it up to discussion, it’s water before milk.)

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and this years theme is ‘Community’. 🫂

Relationships and social communication are vital for your mental health and wellbeing. Having a community around you provides you with emotional support, companionship and reduces isolation. Whether your community is your close friends and family, or a local network, these people help you to build resilience and find purpose through shared experiences and offering support. 🫶🏻

It is estimated that around 1 in 4 people in England will experience a mental health issue at some point in their life. This week is vital to shine a spotlight on mental health, encouraging people to open conversations, banishing the stigma around the topic and promoting wellbeing. 💚

It can be difficult for some people to discuss their mental health for various reasons, but it can make a real difference to have these important conversations. You are not alone. We’ve attached a conversation guide to this post with some pointers of how to start these vital discussions. 🗣️

To bring awareness to the week, our very own Erikka has made some amazing cupcakes for everyone to enjoy. A cuppa and a cake is a great way to get conversation flowing. 🍰

Happy Earth Day! 🌍💚

Earth Day was introduced in 1970 as a day to commemorate and reflect on the movement towards a greener, more sustainable future. It’s all about raising awareness and promoting action. 📢

The theme for 2025 is OUR POWER, OUR PLANET, calling for everyone to unite around renewable energy so we can triple clean electricity by 2030. 💡

In July last year, the UK government announced a “solar rooftop revolution” which will see millions more homes nationwide equipped with solar panels, significantly boosting solar power’s contribution to the UK’s renewable energy transition. Towards the end of 2024 the energy secretary also relaunched the “Solar Taskforce” to help the UK reach these goals by 2030. ☀️

Solar panels have significantly dropped in price over the last ten years making them a more affordable option than ever before. If you’re interested in getting a quote for your home or business, get in touch with one of our team to discuss what’s available to you. 📞

You can also take a look on our website to see if there are any grants currently in your area.

As we’re now half way through National Stress Awareness Month, we thought it would be a good time to pause and share some ways we can help ourselves to manage stress and protect our mental health and wellbeing.

91% of adults reported they experienced high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the past year. This is a problem that affects nearly everyone and it’s important to take time to try and identify the pressure points to be able to help address them.

☁️ Just Breathe – Breathing exercises are a useful technique to help you relax. Try breathing in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 5 seconds and breathe out slowly for 8 seconds. Repeat this cycle 10 times.

☁️ Be Mindful – Be in touch with the world around you, notice what’s happening in the present. Choose an every day task that engages your senses like brushing your teeth, concentrate on how the brush feels in your hand, the sensation of brushing your teething, the smell and taste of the toothpaste, the feeling of your feet on the bathroom floor.

☁️ Sleep Well. Sleep can affect how you feel physically and mentally. Try to create a regular sleeping pattern and a restful environment for consistency and calm. If you can’t sleep, get up and do something else to help you feel sleepy.

☁️ Stress Bucket. This is a simple tool to help us think about the ways we can release stress. Image a bucket you’re carrying round that slowly fills up when you’re stressed. Sometimes you are strong enough to carry a lot of stress, but sometimes you need to find techniques that help lighten the load. Identify what helps you reduce stress, it could be anything from good time management to talking to someone you trust. Make an plan for how to keep those activities going when other pressures build up.

We all experience stress and can struggle from life’s pressures. Remember you are not alone and there are people you can speak to, to help manage those pressures.

These tips have come from www.mentalheath-uk.org/stress, please visit their website if you need more advice on managing stress.

Say hello to the pets of Utility Trade! ⭐

Today is a day to celebrate the joy that pets bring into our lives and to encourage people to help reduce the number of animals in shelters. 🎉

Did you know that 67% of people in a pet friendly office report being more productive and that it increases job satisfaction by 22%! There’s nothing better than having a little cuddle with your furry friend to boost those endorphins 🥰

Today is a great reminder to do some checks on your pet(s):

🧸Throw away any toys that are no longer safe
💉Check vaccinations are up to date and mark down when they’re due
🏷️Check chips and name tags have up to date information, especially if your number may have changed or you moved home recently

Have you been playing around with the idea of adopting a new family member recently? Why don’t you google your closest animal rescue, take a visit this weekend and see if you can find your new best friend 🐾

#NationalPetDay

Happy Eid to all who celebrate! ⭐🌙🎆

We spoke to one of our colleagues who partakes every year to find out what the occasion means to him.

“The whole point of Eid is celebrating the end of the fasting month. It’s a very joyous time, spending time with all my family and friends is my favourite part. We always get the whole extended family together and it’s just a great vibe, we usually order in catering but this year my mum insisted she’s making her lamb biryani, I’m not complaining!”

Did you catch Ofgem’s report of businesses’ experiences of the Energy Market? 1,000 businesses across Great Britain were surveyed to gain their perspective of the Energy Market, including their use of Energy Brokers/Consultants.

Out of those businesses that did use a TPI, 73% reported that they were satisfied with the service they received during the switching process.

Comments received included:
TPI’s initiated contact proactively
Businesses with longstanding relationships with TPI’s were associated with higher levels of confidence and trust
TPI’s provided a greater range of contract options across multiple suppliers with a choice of prices
TPI’s were more responsive than suppliers and that they trusted them to find the best deal more than their energy suppliers

One business stated “It took a lot of researching work out of our hands. Instead of having to do comparisons on our own they just sent it all over to us.”

There were multiple businesses who mentioned having difficulty comparing contracts as a barrier to switching, inconsistencies in the ways that suppliers present tariffs and other contract information made it difficult to assess which contracts were more favourable on price than others. Some found contracts too complex to understand fully, which prevented them from making an informed decision.

When using Utility Trade, your dedicated account manager and energy consultancy team will analyse your business needs using market intelligence to help reduce any financial risk and provide professional price forecasting. Not only will you be getting access to the best energy rates on the market, but everything will also be laid out in easy to understand terms so you can make a knowledgeable decision.

If you’re looking for pricing for your business and are interested in getting comparison quotes, contact us today to talk to one of our team.

0116 366 7981
[email protected]

Did you take part in Earth Hour? 🌍

On Saturday March 22nd between 8:30pm – 9:30pm, Earth Hour invited you to switch off and spend 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet. 🌱

Founded in 2007, Earth Hour started as a ‘lights off” moment, encouraging individuals around the world to switch off their lights to show support for the planet and to raise awareness of the environmental issues affecting it. 💡

In 2023, Earth Hour tweaked their mission, switch off your lights and give an hour to the earth doing something for our planet. 🌏

“Our one shared home needs our help and that we all can – and must – play a part in protecting it.” 🫱🏼‍🫲🏾

It’s Red Nose Day!

We encouraged our colleagues to wear a splash of red today and we’ve had a collection open all week where all contributions have been donated to Comic Relief.

In the last few years, Comic Relief have supported over 10 million people, including:

৹ 2.3 million children and young people in the UK and around the world through access to safe homes, good nutrition and quality healthcare and education
৹ 1.5 million people in the UK and around the world with health care and mental wellbeing support
৹ 1.5 million people, in the UK and around the world with opportunities for learning and access to quality education
৹ 150K people in the UK with access to specialist support services including safe accommodation
৹ 2.6 million people in the UK severely impacted by the rising costs of living

If you’d like to make a donation to this great charity, please follow the link below:
https://lnkd.in/eEXgztvW

Do you have an RTS meter? Did you know they need replacing by the end of June 2025 otherwise you are at risk of your meter losing functionality?

The Radio Teleswitch Service allows some older traditional multi-rate electricity meters to function properly. These include economy 7 and 10 meters. Introduced in the 1980’s, the equipment can no longer be properly maintained, and as there is a low number of these meters still in service, it was decided not to refresh the infrastructure.

If you have an RTS meter, it is likely to stop functioning beyond June. You could have any or all the below happen:
–           Your supplier charging you incorrectly, as they can’t tell what time you used your electricity
–           Your heating and hot water remaining on or off continually or charging up at the wrong time of the day
–           Limited choices of tariffs from suppliers

Your meter will need replacing as soon as possible to ensure you do not lose any functionality which could affect your home or business. Your supplier should have already been in touch regarding replacing your meter.

We have reached out to our suppliers to ask if there are any customers still needing a new meter so we can also get in touch to make sure a replacement appointment is in booked in.

Please remember these meter exchanges are free, and your supplier will never ask you to provide payment details when making the appointment.

If you think you have an RTS meter but have not had any contact from your supplier, please contact us or your supplier directly to arrange an appointment ASAP.

“Out with the blue and in with the brew!”

Today we’re following in the Samaritans‘ footsteps and working to break the myth of Blue Monday. We are treating everyone in the office to a hot drink and encouraging them to have a catch up and a cuppa together.

We’re proud to support #BrewMonday ☕ People can feel low on any day of the year but connecting over a cuppa is a great way to check in with each other 💚

Make the most of 2025 by joining Utility Trade Group! ⚡

We are looking for experienced sales professionals to join our energy sales team.

Want to join? Get in touch!

📩  [email protected]

💻  https://utilitytrade.com/our-story/careers/

UT Power are proud to have completed the installation of a 18.04kW solar PV array for Wellingborough Old Grammarians Sports and Social Club.

Wellingborough Old Grammarians started in 1934 as a rugby club but has now grown into a flourishing sports and social club with over 2000 members. The club has developed from a single sport to become a multi-sport club offering various activities for the local community. The Wellingborough Old Grammarians Sports Club provides for multiple activities such as football, rugby, cricket, and tennis with eight changing rooms, plus a bar, commercial grade kitchen and function room, further providing a first floor committee room and cricket pavilion with a commanding view of the cricket square.

Installation details:
⚡- System size – 18.04kW
☀- Number of panels – 41 x 440w DAS SOLAR
🌳- CO2 emissions reduced – 7.1 tonnes per year
🔌- Annual energy generation –15,857.16kWh
☀- PV Panel Brand – DAS SOLAR
⚡- Inverter Brand – Solis 20kW with online monitoring
📍- Location – #Wellingborough
🔧- Mounting Kit – Van der Valk Solar Systems

Thank you to the whole team for their hard work.

Save The Children’s Christmas jumper day! ❄

Every December millions of people put on a festive knit at their workplace, school or with friends and make a donation to help give children the magical future they deserve. The donations go towards helping kids facing serious issues like war, hunger and poverty.

A big thank you to everyone in the office today who came in wearing a Christmas jumper and for donating to this wonderful charity.

If you’d like to make a donation, text WOOLLY to 70050 to donate £5 to Save the Children.

#ChristmasJumperDay SaveTheChildren #FestiveSweaters #SeasonOfGiving