80 | UK Enterprise Awards 2022 With clients based across the UK, from SMEs to large corporate companies, Commerce Utilities is a company dedicated to providing an impartial, professional service and a fair price for energy usage. Founded by Managing Director, Thomas Thorpe, in 2018, Commerce Utilities specialises in electricity and gas procurement, water management and card reader rates. The firm was established due to Thomas wanting to create a new experience for customers when dealing with utility management companies. Due to bad practices within the industry, he felt he could offer an experience to customers that he felt was missing in his past career of working for suppliers and other energy brokers. “From the beginning, it was decided that the company would not offer verbal contracts and that paper contracts would be offered to clients to provide the highest level of compliance,” explains Thomas, speaking of his unique approach. “We believe we offer a one-of-a-kind journey for our clients. Commerce Utilities is treated as an extension of our client’s own businesses, just as an accountant would be.” Being a small independent utility management company offering friendly, one-to-one utility management and advice means that the personal touch is guaranteed, and Thomas makes the effort twice yearly to visit each and every one of his clients to ensure they are happy and to take onboard any feedback they may have. This is just one way that the firm differentiates itself from competitors and marks itself out as the best choice for customers. “We’re very proactive and enjoy meeting our customers face-to-face,” he elaborates. “Our core values are all based on putting the client first and are simply to be friendly, offering unbiased advice at all times, as well as being fully compliant and fair!” From his time spent within the industry, Thomas understands perhaps more than most the many issues that businesses face when dealing with utility management companies and therefore he strives to carve a new path with his zeropressure sales approach. Clients are made fully aware that everything Commerce Utilities offers is an option and therefore can be turned down at any given point. “Due to bad practices within the market, discussing utilities with new companies can be very difficult at times,” he says. “We have many clients who promised themselves they would never deal with a utility company again after receiving for customer service, who are now our happy clients!” Of course, a strong internal culture helps to underpin a company’s ethos and Commerce Utilities prides itself on its inclusive working environment, and a small team of dedicated enthusiasts who are committed to putting the customer first. “We see ourselves in a way as accountants for our clients. Managing a client’s utilities is an important job and we feel this is often taken too lightly by our competitors. We recruit people who share this vision with us!” The Covid-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on many businesses, predominantly the hospitality sector, however during this period many suppliers’ credit criteria had changed, meaning when reviewing clients’ future tariff options, instead of having a full panel of 22 energy suppliers on board, Commerce Utilities would only have a handful of tariff options to offer. “Still to this date, many suppliers criteria haven’t changed,” Thomas says. “This has resulted in us, Commerce Utilities, having to spend triple the time when investigating new options for our clients to ensure they are paying for a fair price.” Recently, the firm was recognised in the UK Enterprise Awards 2022 and was titled Best Utility Management Company 2022 – Midlands, as well as achieving the prestigious Distinction Award for Superior Customer Service 2022 – Midlands. Now, Apr22335 Best Utility Management Company 2022 – Midlands & Distinction Award for Superior Customer Service 2022 - Midlands Thomas and the team are making firm plans for the future, and they are all very customer centric. “We’d like to make more visits to clients, become more on foot. In the years 2020 and 2021 we were invited to many exhibitions where we are able to meet potential clients in person. We found that this really helped boost credibility and confidence for Commerce Utilities within the sector. We aim to keep meeting clients, and to continue being present at exhibitions across the UK.” Contact Details Contact: Thomas Thorpe Company: Commerce Utilities Web Address: www.commerceutilities.co.uk Commerce Utilities
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