BUSINESS owners in the county are joining together to cut their gas and electricity costs through the launch of a new initiative Worcestershire Business Energy Scheme.

Free to join, it has already gained the support of many local company directors and Worcester's MP Robin Walker, who are keen to see businesses of all sizes make financial savings on their gas and electricity tariffs.

The Worcestershire Business Energy Scheme has been launched by Ashley Bayliss, sales director of Compare Energy Bills. Mr Bayliss set up the scheme as a response to growing frustration at the inconsistent prices being offered to his clients by suppliers. By bringing together the combined gas and electricity buying power of all of his clients, rather than getting individual quotes, he found he could negotiate much cheaper prices, thereby benefitting everyone involved.

He explained: “Energy costs eat into profits, and many companies have felt the financial strain of rising gas and electricity prices in recent years. With this in mind, in August 2013 we launched a pilot scheme called the Black Country Business Energy Scheme, and it was a great success. A wide range of businesses signed up, from small fish and chips shops right through to charities, large care homes and manufacturers - all of which benefited from notable cost savings. Since then, we have launched the scheme successfully in Shropshire, Staffordshire and Lincoln, and with the launch of the initiative in Worcestershire, local businesses now have a fantastic opportunity to benefit too.”

Robin Walker added: "I am always delighted to see local businesses working together in Worcester and anything that can reduce the cost of doing business must be a good thing. It makes sense that by clubbing together, small businesses can get a better deal for their energy costs and as a former member of the business select committee and a big supporter of the FSB, I always want to see small businesses get a better deal. Inflation is at an all time low partly due to falling energy prices and it is vital that businesses take full advantage of this so that they can keep more of their money to invest in staff and creating new jobs. I wish the Worcestershire Business Energy Scheme every success."

With the scheme, each company that joins retains its own individual contract. It pays only for its own gas and electric usage and its account remains in its own name. However, Mr Bayliss and his team are able to secure much better tariffs for clients by negotiating with the combined spend of all of their clients’ accounts. This means that they are able to secure low rates which are normally offered only to much larger businesses and energy spenders. And the more businesses which sign up to the scheme, the greater the discounts and savings that can be secured.

Companies can register an interest in the Worcestershire Business Energy Scheme by emailinginfo@cebltd.com.