Member Article

Northumberland Firm Scoops Newcomer of the Year

A Northumberland based renewable energy company has triumphed at this year’s grand final of the North East Business Awards, being awarded with one of the regions highest accolades.

In recognition of its business achievements, including reporting a turnover of £4m in its first year of trading, Ashington based Saving Energy North East has been awarded Newcomer of the Year.

Held at Hardwick Hall, County Durham, the event brought together a host of esteemed businesses throughout the North East who had previously won at the regional award ceremonies held earlier this year.

The company faced stiff competition to outshine In-Spec Manufacturing who won the Teesside heat and Engineering Creatives; winners of the Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside round.

Speaking about receiving the award Garry Coulson, Managing Director at Saving Energy, said: “It was such a great achievement to receive the accolade of Newcomer of the Year for Tyneside and Northumberland that we are overwhelmed to receive the overall winner in the North East.

“The award is excellent recognition of the growth and success we have achieved in such a short space of time. The business has grown each year and we have plans to organically sustain this growth.”

Established in 2014, Saving Energy North East specialises in providing a range of energy saving measures such as solar PV, insulation and biomass to both homeowners and businesses.

The company has delivered major large scale solar contracts including installing solar panels to 380 residential properties on behalf of Arch, the Northumberland Development Company as well as fitting solar PV to 400 purpose built bungalows on behalf of Northumberland Aged Mineworkers Home Association (NAMWA).

“When setting up the company, our mission was to help to bring people out of fuel poverty. And having worked on major projects for the likes of Arch and NAMWA, we have helped to do exactly that. Installing solar panels in the most deprived areas has meant tenants and homeowners have almost halved their electricity bills, as well as significantly reduced their carbon emissions.”

Most recently the company has worked on a unique solar installation on behalf of local entrepreneur and well known haulier Alan Ferguson to install solar panels to the Ferguson Transport’s head office that are distinctly designed to read ‘FERGY’ in recognition of the family name.

And the award adds to the companies string of accolades, including recently winning New Business of the Year and Green Business of the Year at the Northumberland Business Awards.

Garry added: “It is great to have received another award. We have a great team behind us and they have helped us to get to where we are today through their hard work and commitment.”

The company has a strong commercial model, focussed on providing job opportunities to local people who have experienced long term unemployment, giving full training and teaching new transferrable skills. At present, 40 per cent of staff were recruited direct from unemployment. They have all received full training and offered a progressive career path.

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