Member Article

Sunderland BID powers up to help businesses

SUNDERLAND’S BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT is powering up to help companies across the city make huge savings.

The BID has launched a Power Partnership, working with utility giants Utilitywise PLC and telecoms company, We Communicate, to offer organisations the opportunity to reduce their business outgoings.

Sunderland Power Partnership is a free service to businesses within the BID district, which will give them the chance to make savings on electricity, water and gas and across telecoms, internet services and merchant payments.

Both Utilitywise and We Communicate currently work with around 27,000 businesses across the UK, which means they have collective buying power to bring in deals that are virtually impossible to match.

And that’s good news for businesses in Sunderland, which could find themselves saving anything from £500 to £5000.

Dean Hogg, senior partner channel account manager at Utilitywise PLC, said the company had worked on a number of similar schemes which has brought huge benefits to the participants.

“We use our expertise and buying power to offer great savings to the people who sign up at absolutely no cost to them,” he said.

“And along with the great savings that can be made we can show them ways of being more energy efficient which can lead to them reducing their consumption by around 20 per cent.

“Working with us means that the businesses also have one point of contact for all of their utilities and a dedicated account manager so they always have someone who can deal with any inquiries they might have.”

The Power Partnership also offers businesses the opportunity to work with telecoms experts, We Communicate, which finds the best rates across a range of services.

Neil Brannigan, a consultant with We Communicate, has also worked closely with Utilitywise PLC on similar partnerships.

“Because we’re not affiliated to one particular brand we are able to find the very best deal for anyone involved in the Power Partnership,” he said.

“That might even be negotiating a better deal with their existing supplier because we are more aware of what they can offer.

“If people are already on the best deal we would tell them that but really businesses have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking part.”

Ken Dunbar, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID, said that creating the Sunderland Power Partnership was part of the commitment to supporting businesses in the city.

“This kind of partnership has helped many companies in other areas make really significant savings and it’s a no risk situation because there are no costs involved,” he said.

“We have teamed up with two well respected companies with proven track records and we look forward to businesses across the city joining up and enjoying all the benefits this can bring.”

Any business wanting more information should register their interest by calling 0330 303 3302 or emailing powerpartnership@bidsunderland.co.uk.

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