Tag Archives: Jonathan Hazeldine

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M&S Energy launches £300,000 Community Energy Fund to support energy projects and technologies across the UK

LONDON, 2017-May-26 — /EPR Retail News/ — For the third year, M&S Energy is today (22 May 2017) launching the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund, with up to £300,000 available to support community energy projects and technologies across the UK.

Any not for profit organisation that wants to use renewable energy to provide community benefits can apply, whether a community energy group, sports club, library, amateur dramatic society, village hall or school – the judges are looking for innovative and inspiring projects that support the local community’s needs.

Following the initial application and shortlisting process the winners will be decided by public vote giving customers and community members the opportunity to get involved with the initiative and back their favourite project.  Projects that go to the public vote can also seek to raise additional funds through crowdfunding alongside gathering voter support.

Around 80,000 people voted in last year’s competition and 26 projects, including schools, sports clubs and a community pub, were awarded grants and over £28,000 was crowdfunded. The competition highlights the hard work people up and down the country put into improving their local community.

Applications are now open and will close on Friday 23rd June.

Jonathan Hazeldine, Head of M&S Energy said, “Each time we open the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund for new applicants, we are incredibly impressed by the time and commitment so many people give to the community projects that matter to them. Last year’s applicants upped their game with their campaigning and marketing efforts, and we are looking forward to starting the search for this year’s winners. As a 100% green energy provider, this fund is a great way for us to take our commitment further by getting involved with our communities and helping them become more environmentally and financially sustainable.

Dawn Bebe, Director, Energyshare said “Energyshare is delighted to help support the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund campaign for the third year in a row. We hope projects across the UK will once again compete from additional funds and use the opportunity to crowdfund even more funds for their projects to make them happen.”

Amongst last year’s winners was The Angler’s Rest, a community pub with a Post Office in the Peak District, that had faced closure but was saved by the local community who raised money through a local share scheme. This enthusiasm paid off again, with the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund judges awarding it £12,500 for solar panels which will help reduce its energy bills. The judges were equally impressed with Toxteth Food Central, a community-led food hub with an affordable food store, cafe, training space and garden. The judges were inspired by how this project has brought the local community together and awarded funding for solar panels to power the eco-friendly. Entering the competition for the second time, Papworth Trust in East Anglia, which offers care to disabled and older people, was also awarded funding, having demonstrated clear progress towards becoming a more sustainable organisation through LED installations and refurbishments using recycled materials.

Competition details

The M&S Energy Community Energy Fund will be awarded as follows:

  1. Regional funding awards for projects across Great Britain that require a maximum of £12,000, determined by the public vote
  2. Judges’ Prizes of at least  £20,000 awarded to the most innovative or inspiring projects selected from those that do not win through the public vote

Applications are now open and will close on Friday 23rd June.  Applicants will be shortlisted by a panel including M&S, SSE, Energyshare and an independent judge, projects will be considered based upon their social and environmental impact and on meeting a variety of criteria, including:

  • Having a clear business case that gives value for money
  • An engaged and supportive community
  • A measurable community benefit

Full details on how to enter are available at https://www.mandsenergyfund.com/

The public vote will open on Monday 4th September and closes on Friday 20th October.

The winners will be announced in November.

About M&S Energy

M&S launched M&S Energy in 2008, working with SSE, one of the UK’s leading energy companies. M&S Energy offers customers great value gas and electricity, with simple tariffs and excellent customer service from a brand they already know and trust. Like M&S, SSE champions environmental responsibility and works hard to cut carbon emissions and reduce energy use: SSE continues to be the UK’s leading generator of electricity from renewable sources and the largest generator of electricity from wind across the UK and Ireland.

The electricity consumed by M&S Energy customers is matched by electricity that has the Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin (REGO). The annual consumption of electricity used by M&S Energy customers is matched with the equivalent amount of electricity generated from large scale hydro sources input to the National Grid.

Media enquiries:
M&S Corporate Press Office
0208 718 1919

SOURCE: M&S

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M&S Energy Community Energy Fund winners announced

  • Following a staggering 78,837 votes by the general public, 19 projects have been awarded grants from the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund.
  • Judges including Sir Ed Davey, have also awarded a further seven projects up to £12,500 each.
  • The project has helped customers get involved and Spark Something Good through donations  for their preferred project, with an additional £28,798  raised through the Crowdfunding platform.

London, 2016-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — M&S Energy has today (31 Oct 2016) announced the winners of the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund. Now in its second year the scheme saw a staggering 78,837 people get involved and cast a vote. All of the projects were looking for funding to install renewable technology or energy efficiency measures in their community building.

It was a fierce competition but today 26 projects have been awarded grants. The community energy winners are a diverse range of projects from schools to sports clubs to a community pub. They span Great Britain from the Highlands to Devon and will benefit all different types of communities.

Tom Druitt from the Big Lemon CIC, a winner of the South Regional Prize said, “We’re thrilled to have won the regional M&S Energy Award for our Solar Bus project. This will enable us to cover the roof of our depot in solar panels so we can run our new electric buses on renewable energy.  As far as we know there is nothing quite like this in the country yet, so this award will help us push the boundaries of what is possible and bring a zero carbon, zero emissions bus service to our community.  We would like to pay tribute to the other wonderful projects in our region and wish them well in developing their plans in the future.”

A panel of judges comprising of Sir Ed Davey (Chairman of Mongoose Energy & Former Secretary of State for DECC), Giles Bristow (Director at Forum for the Future), Morven Smith (Head of Community Investment at SSE), Nancy Sheterline (winner of the 2015 M&S Energy Community Energy Fund in the South West region for Exeter Phoenix) and Kuljinder Pank (Community Energy Manager at M&S Energy) selected the seven judge’s prize winners, each awarded up to £12,500.

Sir Ed Davey said, “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be involved in the judging panel for the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund.  All the winners will make a real difference to their local communities, made possible through this fund. The level of community support during the voting stages is a clear confirmation that community energy is thriving and communities around Great Britain want and need it – more so at this time of uncertainty in the community energy field. The judge’s prizes were stand out, presenting some unique and innovative ways to think about generating and saving energy.”

The M&S Energy Community Energy Fund saw 199 applications from a wide variety of groups looking to make a difference and 125 made the shortlist. This year the voting process included the option to donate to any of the community energy groups via the Crowdfunding platform link on the M&S Energy fund website, this has resulted in an extra £28,798 of funding.

Jonathan Hazeldine, Head of M&S Energy said, “This year the competition has been fierce and we’ve been overwhelmed by the participation from the public who have voted in their tens of thousands. They’ve also generously donated over £28,000 through the Crowdfunding tool on our website which has been brilliant – for local community groups every small donation can make a massive difference. We’re looking forward to seeing the projects come to life and benefit local communities. As a 100% green energy supplier, supporting those who share our vision of a sustainable future through renewable energy is really important to our company, our customers and our colleagues.”

Notes to Editors

If you are a customer with an enquiry, please contact our Customer Service team on 0333 014 8000.

Source: M&S

Posted on by

The winners of the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund announced

  • Following a staggering 78,837 votes by the general public, 19 projects have been awarded grants from the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund.
  • Judges including Sir Ed Davey, have also awarded a further seven projects up to £12,500 each.
  • The project has helped customers get involved and Spark Something Good through donations  for their preferred project, with an additional £28,798  raised through the Crowdfunding platform.

LONDON, 2016-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — M&S Energy has today (31 Oct 2016) announced the winners of the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund. Now in its second year the scheme saw a staggering 78,837 people get involved and cast a vote. All of the projects were looking for funding to install renewable technology or energy efficiency measures in their community building.

It was a fierce competition but today 26 projects have been awarded grants. The community energy winners are a diverse range of projects from schools to sports clubs to a community pub. They span Great Britain from the Highlands to Devon and will benefit all different types of communities.

Tom Druitt from the Big Lemon CIC, a winner of the South Regional Prize said, “We’re thrilled to have won the regional M&S Energy Award for our Solar Bus project. This will enable us to cover the roof of our depot in solar panels so we can run our new electric buses on renewable energy.  As far as we know there is nothing quite like this in the country yet, so this award will help us push the boundaries of what is possible and bring a zero carbon, zero emissions bus service to our community.  We would like to pay tribute to the other wonderful projects in our region and wish them well in developing their plans in the future.”

A panel of judges comprising of Sir Ed Davey (Chairman of Mongoose Energy & Former Secretary of State for DECC), Giles Bristow (Director at Forum for the Future), Morven Smith (Head of Community Investment at SSE), Nancy Sheterline (winner of the 2015 M&S Energy Community Energy Fund in the South West region for Exeter Phoenix) and Kuljinder Pank (Community Energy Manager at M&S Energy) selected the seven judge’s prize winners, each awarded up to £12,500.

Sir Ed Davey said, “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be involved in the judging panel for the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund.  All the winners will make a real difference to their local communities, made possible through this fund. The level of community support during the voting stages is a clear confirmation that community energy is thriving and communities around Great Britain want and need it – more so at this time of uncertainty in the community energy field. The judge’s prizes were stand out, presenting some unique and innovative ways to think about generating and saving energy.”

The M&S Energy Community Energy Fund saw 199 applications from a wide variety of groups looking to make a difference and 125 made the shortlist. This year the voting process included the option to donate to any of the community energy groups via the Crowdfunding platform link on the M&S Energy fund website, this has resulted in an extra £28,798 of funding.

Jonathan Hazeldine, Head of M&S Energy said, “This year the competition has been fierce and we’ve been overwhelmed by the participation from the public who have voted in their tens of thousands. They’ve also generously donated over £28,000 through the Crowdfunding tool on our website which has been brilliant – for local community groups every small donation can make a massive difference. We’re looking forward to seeing the projects come to life and benefit local communities. As a 100% green energy supplier, supporting those who share our vision of a sustainable future through renewable energy is really important to our company, our customers and our colleagues.”

Notes to Editors

If you are a customer with an enquiry, please contact our Customer Service team on 0333 014 8000.

Source: M&S