In their latest initiative to help the community, employees at BES Utilities will be providing food bank donations to Fleetwood-based charity, The Mustard Seed Group.
BES Utilities is committed to supporting worthy causes, and they will be joining forces with Fleetwood Town Community Trust to provide monthly donations to the charity.
Employees have been invited to leave items in a purpose-built collection box, which will be collected on the last working day of each month.
Joel Chapman, Head of Communications at BES said, “Our employees are incredibly generous and love doing their bit for worthy causes, especially ones close to home. We are delighted to team up with the Mustard Seed Group here in Fleetwood and we’re looking forward to finding out more about how our donations are supporting the local community.”
The Mustard Seed Group is an outreach charity for those who are lonely, vulnerable, in crisis or people experiencing short term difficulties and complications to their lives. They hold a weekly session where they offer hot meals and a place for people to relax and meet others in a safe environment.
The Mustard Seed Group is an outreach charity for those who are lonely, vulnerable, in crisis or people experiencing short term difficulties and complications to their lives. They hold a weekly session where they offer hot meals and a place for people to relax and meet others in a safe environment.
“Receiving support from BES Utilities means a great deal to our charity,” said Hilary Craig, one of The Mustard Seed Group Managers. “We help people in crisis with food, household goods, and bedding, and we never turn anyone away empty handed. We provide hot meals to those in need, and it’s all prepped and served by volunteers. We rely heavily on donations of food and we’re really grateful to BES Utilities for choosing to help us.”
The charity meets on a Monday night at 6pm at St Peters Church, Lord Street, Fleetwood. Click here to find out more.
This morning, almost 200 members of staff from BES Utilities gathered on the pitch to listen to business updates from company Directors, Andy and Michelle.
Andy Pilley and Michelle Davidson, Co-owners and Directors of BES, hold regular briefing sessions to keep staff up to date with what’s been happening in the business and what’s coming up.
In today’s briefing they discussed opportunities for progression within the company, the new training and development e-learning programme they’ve invested in, and they provided an update about BES Metering Services Ltd, their most recent acquisition.
“We hold regular staff briefings as I think it’s so important to keep them in the loop with all the exciting things happening within the business,” said Andy. “It really helps with staff engagement and morale across the teams and it’s something we’ll continue to do.
“The venue for the briefing changed last minute as it was such a glorious morning, so it was an extra treat for staff as the pitch is usually out of bounds during the season!”
As well as being official sponsors of Fleetwood Town Football Club, BES Utilities’ Head Office is based at their ground, and the company is proud to employ over 200 members of staff, many of whom are from the local community.
Card Saver and BES Utilities have today donated £20,000 to support
a training programme aimed at tackling bullying in schools.
The Fylde coast-based companies – set up and led by
entrepreneur Andy Pilley and his sister Michelle Davidson – have joined forces
with Human Behaviour Trainer and Success Coach Norry Ascroft to enable the
roll-out of his MADD About Bullying programme to 200 schools across the
North West.
This is the second time Andy, who is also chairman of
Fleetwood Town Football Club, has pledged a five-figure sum to support Norry’s
ground-breaking anti-bullying work.
Earlier this year League One Fleetwood Town gave £10,000 to
MADD About Bullying – which stands for ‘Making A Direct Difference’.
The programme, which is presented through a series of
engaging video modules, explores the foundation of human behaviour and investigates
strategies to tackle negative actions which can lead to bullying.
Fleetwood-based commercial energy supplier BES Utilities and
Blackpool-based payment solutions company Card Saver have both donated £10,000
to support the roll-out.
Norry said:“Andy’s generous support is truly wonderful
and I can’t thank him and his teams at BES Utilities, Card Saver and Fleetwood
Town enough.
“MADD About Bullying is designed to assist teachers, parents and
students and make a real and direct difference by addressing behaviour which
can lead to bullying.
“Andy’s
first donation enabled us to roll-out the programme to 100 schools. This additional
£20,000 from Andy and his companies will enable us to reach another 200 North
West schools. This fantastic support will make a real difference.”
The MADD About Bullying training programme is funded
entirely through sponsors so it can be delivered to schools free of charge.
Andy said:“Norry’s an inspirational person who is so
passionate about tackling the serious and complex issue of bullying in schools.
“We are
delighted to be able to follow up the earlier backing from Fleetwood Town with
additional financial support from BES Utilities and Card Saver.
“We are
proud to be sponsors of a programme which could make a real difference for
schools and young people.”
Norry set out to
help teachers, parents and children after reading about a teenage girl who had
committed suicide due to cyber bullying.
Explaining how MADD About Bullying
works, Norry added: “Training
teachers, parents and children about the behaviour weaknesses that drive
bullying is the only way we are going to make a real difference.
“We have received some amazing feedback from schools already using the training programme and getting real benefits from the modules.
“This is something we want to roll out across the UK. Through the support of Andy and our other sponsors, it’s a dream that can become a reality.”
BES Utilities is backing a campaign to help raise funds for a vital community support service.
The commercial energy supplier has pledged its support to The Samaritans ‘Pay for a Day’ campaign which was launched to help meet the charity’s day-to-day running costs.
The Samaritans’ Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre branch deals with more than 2,000 calls a month from people who require emotional support or are in distress.
Although the branch has a dedicated group of 70-plus volunteers the charity relies solely on donations from the public to pay its £147 a day running costs.
BES Utilities, which is owned by Fleetwood entrepreneur Andy Pilley, has pledged its support to ‘Pay for a Day’ after the campaign was brought to its attention by the company’s Learning and Development Trainer Alex Dodd, who is a Samaritans volunteer in her spare time.
Alex said:“The work The Samaritans does is so vital, they help so many people at times of real hardship and distress.
“Every day the Fylde coast branch answers, on average, 80phone calls, emails and text messages, and is there for anyone who calls or visits for a face-to-face chat.
“It really is a lifeline for so many people and I’m so delighted and proud BES Utilities is supporting such a fantastic charity in this way.”
The Samaritans’ Fylde coast branch, situated on Edward Street, Blackpool, was set up in 1978 and operates 24-hours-a-day, 365 days a year.
Branch director Angie Pascoesaid she was delighted local companies like BES Utilities were supporting the ‘Pay for a Day’ campaign.
Angie said: “At the heart of The Samaritans are our volunteers who do such amazing, selfless work. But like any charity we need funds to pay for basic things like lighting, heating, phones and rent.
“It costs £147 to run and maintain our branch and shop each day, which includes training for all our volunteers and paying for our Freecall phone service 116 123.
“As a charity we rely solely on the generosity of the public. Local businesses often ask us how they can help and getting involved with ‘Pay for a Day’ is perfect.
“I’m really delighted BES Utilities has decided to sponsor the branch. It means a lot and helps our volunteers to continue to provide such a vital service.”
If you would like to get involved with ‘Pay for a Day’ or get more information about the work of The Samaritans please email blackpool.fundraising@samaritans.org
A once forlorn football pitch is bringing players of all ages together thanks to a stunning transformation led by Fleetwood Town.
The pitch in East Pines Park, Anchorsholme, was in a rather sorry state until the Cod Army’s grounds team got involved.
Town chairman Andy Pilley – who grew up nearby – pledged to help revamp the facilities after he was approached by the Friends of East Pines Park.
Now, following extensive improvement work, which includes drainage and a new marked-out playing surface and goals, the pitch plays host to a variety of community football sessions for youngsters. There are also weekly walking football sessions for older players.
And the new facilities have already been credited with reducing instances of anti-social behaviour in the area.
Visiting the park to see the stunning transformation for himself, Andy said: “I grew up near the park and know it very well. It’s an important open space for local residents that sadly, until the Friends group got involved, was in a rather sorry state.
“I’m delighted that as a local lad I’ve been able to assist the great work the Friends group does. The pitch now looks fantastic – I’d hazard a guess it’s probably the best park pitch on the Fylde coast!
“What is great to see is that since the work was carried out so many groups are now using the pitch. The club is committed to helping with its upkeep and we hope this is the start of something really special for Anchorsholme residents young and old.”
Together with the help of Fleetwood Town, the Friends group– which is made up of a dedicated band of volunteers and local councillors – has secured grants from Sport England and the Lancashire Crime Commissioner.
This has enabled the creation of coaching sessions for under-11 to under-16 age ranges. The sessions, run by Sport Blackpool in association with coaches from Blackpool and The Fylde College, involve around 50 youngsters.
Cllr Paul Galley, who represents Anchorsholme ward, said: “Andy and Fleetwood Town have been amazing. With their support we have been able to create a truly wonderful playing surface. It has proper drainage, is correctly marked out, goals, nets, corner flags and is something the whole community is rightly proud of.
“The impact of the pitch and coaching sessions, together with our message of respect for the park, respect for other residents and respect for the local community, has helped reduce anti-social behaviour in the park massively.
“Our next step is to create several East Pines Park five-a-side teams that can play in the leagues at Fleetwood Town’s Poolfoot Farm training complex. Again, Andy has generously agreed to help us on that journey.
“Through Andy and Fleetwood Town’s support and guidance, we are creating an amazing footballing and sports legacy which will positively shape the lives of people of our young people for a generation to come.”
Since 2015, the Friends of East Pines Park has secured funding and raised money allowing them to install £45,000 of new play equipment, erect £28,000 of new railings, plant more than 4,000 plants and open a café at Anchorsholme Library. In 2018 the park was named ‘Best Park in Blackpool’ in the Blackpool In Bloom awards.
BES Utilities has won a major contract which will help local
authorities, the NHS, schools and emergency services drive down their energy costs.
ESPO – one of the UK’s largest public sector buying
organisations – has set up a new fixed-price purchase framework that will allow
public sector bodies to source gas and electricity at lower prices than they
would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.
And ESPO has confirmed it has selected BES Utilities as one
of its three suppliers for the new framework.
The contract – which is worth an estimated £600m over two
years – allows BES to supply a range of public sector bodies across the UK including:
Local authorities
Educational establishments (including
Academies)
Central Government Departments and agencies
Police, Fire and Rescue and
Coastguard emergency services
NHS and Health and Social Care (HSC) bodies,
including Ambulance Services
Registered charities
Registered
social landlords
Michelle Davidson,
co-owner and director of BES Utilities, said:“We are delighted to have been selected to supply gas and electricity
to ESPO’s customers through this new framework. This is a major development for
BES and opens a new market to us.
“We always pride
ourselves on developing innovative products which help our private sector
customers drive down their energy bills. We now look forward to bringing this dedication
and expertise to the public sector.
“We are committed to
working with ESPO and their customers, who range from schools, councils, the emergency
services and charities, to deliver unrivalled service and real value for money.”
Lancashire-based BES Utilities is joined by Corona Energy
and Total Gas and Power as the framework’s suppliers.
All three were assessed during the procurement process on their
financial stability, track record, experience, technical and professional
ability and regulatory status.
Declan McAlister, ESPO Category Manager (Energy), said:“We are proud to bring to market our brand-new Fixed Price Energy framework
which will give excellent value and service to the public sector and will
provide greater budgetary certainty.
“We are delighted to have a choice of suppliers on the
framework that have all been rigorously assessed during our procurement process
to ensure our customers receive the highest of standards from the ESPO they
know and trust.
“In particular, the suppliers impressed us with their
commitment to social responsibility and transparency, a key principle of this
procurement process.”
BES Utilities is committed to social responsibility and helping customers in tough trading times through the company’s ground-breaking hardship fund and its partnership with the charity Business Debtline.
In 2018 alone, the BES Fund gave assistance to customers who
had collectively run up energy debts of almost £500,000. Through pro-active
intervention, BES and Business Debtline were able to provide clear pathways and
viable solutions for businesses allowing them to continue trading.
ESPO, which is jointly owned by the county councils of
Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk and
Peterborough City Council, has more than 30 years of experience in public
sector procurement.
As a large purchaser, it can take an aggregated and risk-managed approach to negotiations and so return greater value to customers amid often volatile energy market prices.
The new framework can secure pre-agreed, fixed prices for Half Hour (HH), Non-Half-Hourly (NHH) and Unmetered Supplies (UMS). This will, in turn, provide budget certainty for customers.
Commercial energy supplier BES Utilities is delighted to today
announce the launch of its very own specialist metering services division.
This follows the acquisition of Liverpool-based metering, asset
and management company Access Install, for an undisclosed sum, with a further
planned seven figure investment in the operation over the next 12 months.
The business will now trade as BES Metering Services with all 80 Access Install employees –
including a nationwide network of metering engineers – transferring to the
Lancashire-based BES Group with immediate effect.
BES co-founder and chairman Andy Pilley said the development is
great news for customers while also securing jobs. BES is also looking to
create at least 20 new jobs by expanding the number of metering engineers
employed.
Andy said:“We are delighted to announce the launch of BES Metering Services which is a very
important development for both the company and our customers.
“Through
this acquisition we now have our very own dedicated metering installation and
servicing company and the importance of this cannot be over-stated.
“By
combining this new internal capability with the services of our existing
trusted partners we will improve the speed and reliability of metering
appointments as well as access to the latest metering technologies and that is
great news for customers.
“On top of this,
having our own metering business demonstrates our commitment towards meeting
the Government’s smart meter rollout target.
“We are delighted to
welcome a new 80-strong workforce to BES and we look forward to expanding this
dedicated team very soon by increasing the number of meter engineers employed. These
are truly exciting times for BES as we continue to expand our business and
improve services for our customers.”
BES was formed in 2002 and supplies gas and electricity to non-domestic
customers across the UK. It recently bucked the national trend by slashing
electricity bills for thousands of businesses by an average of 10.28%.
The group of companies now employs around 800 staff across all its
businesses which include BES Utilities, Card Saver and Fleetwood Town Football
Club.
Founded in 2016, Access Install provides Meter Operator
Provider (MoP), Meter Asset Manager (MAM) and Meter Asset Provider (MAP)
services. Operations and staff will continue to be based at Liverpool
International Business Park following the sale to BES.
The Government has targeted the installation of more than 53 million ‘Smart Meters’ in homes and businesses by the end of 2020.
Smart meters enable customers to receive accurate and up-to-date information about their energy consumption which can assist in helping reduce bills and improve energy efficiency.
Football-mad
youngsters living at a Salvation Army Lifehouse have now got their very own
pitch to play on thanks to Fleetwood Town Football Club chairman Andy Pilley.
The Cod Army was
approached by the charity with a view to donating footballs to assist young
residents living in temporary supported accommodation, George Williams House.
However, Andy was
so moved by the fantastic work done by The Salvation Army he arranged for the club’s
grounds staff to visit George Williams House in Fleetwood which offers support
and services to young people and families facing homelessness.
The Highbury team
cleared an overgrown garden area and created a football pitch for residents to
use. Fleetwood Town’s Community Trust also donated goals, nets and
footballs.
James Scott, Salvation Army Support
Worker, said:“We can’t thank Andy and the team at Fleetwood
Town enough for their hard work and generosity in getting our garden back into use.
“Since the work they’ve carried out
our younger residents have been playing football every evening after school and
all day at the weekend.
“It’s a much-needed resource and this
was a very generous gesture from Fleetwood Town FC. This offers the children a
valuable chance to meet other young residents in a safe environment allowing
them to have fun in a healthy way.”
Andy Pilley said:“Fleetwood
Town is a real community club and when I heard about the great work The
Salvation Army does in Fleetwood I was only too happy to help.
“Our grounds staff not only do brilliant
work at Highbury, and our Poolfoot Farm training base, but in the community
through our Community Trust.
“It is wonderful to see the
transformation of the garden area at George Williams House and we hope the
young people living there have many happy hours playing football with their
friends and family.”
As well receiving
temporary accommodation, residents at George Williams House are helped with gaining
access to GPs, mental health support services and assistance with any health
issues they may face.
This can include
accessing help from agencies who work with people struggling with addiction
issues.
Staff also offer support with money management when residents move on to their new home as well as tenancy training to ensure they sustain their new accommodation.
Adult card prices FROZEN as younger fans reap rewards of great deal
Fleetwood Town are delighted to announce a PRICE FREEZE for all adult Onward Cards for the 2019/20 season.
And, in a massive boost for young fans and families, the price of an Onward Card for all Under-16s has been slashed to just £23 a season for standing and £50 for seating.
That is asaving of up to £40 and means young fans can watch the Cod Army next season for from as little as JUST£1 A MATCH!
Onward Cards for the 2019/20 season go on sale at 9am Tuesday May 7th.
The cards, which replaced traditional season tickets at Highbury last summer, not only give supporters entry to all 23 Sky Bet League One home matches but an exclusive range of offers and discounts across the club and its partners.
Onward Card packages are available to buy in full or with 10 monthly instalments using the club’s partnership with Card Saver and their Fan Pay service.
Adult prices start from just £17 per month, with Seniors and Under-25 Onward Cards £12 per month and Under 16s from £2.30 per month. Supporters under the age of five are free with a paying adult.
Fleetwood Town chairman Andy Pilley said: “We are delighted to be able to not only freeze the price of the Onward Card for all adult supporters but massively reduce the price for Under-16s.
“We pride ourselves on being a true family club and providing real value for money for our loyal and brilliant fans. With packages starting at £2.30 per month for juniors and £17 for adults we feel we are offering fans a real bargain.
“This is a very exciting time for Fleetwood Town and we want as many families and young fans here at Highbury to enjoy this journey as we go ‘Onward Together’.”
Existing Onward Card holders have until 5pm on Tuesday May 28th to secure their seats for the new season. After this date, their seat will be available to purchase on general sale. Card holders should also retain their existing Onward Card as they will be revalidated upon renewing.
The Onward Card will be split into three different pricing structures, available on both monthly and annual plans. The Standing prices are for the Memorial Stand, with the Seating for both the Parkside and Highbury Stand. The Premium pricing is for Block D of the Parkside Stand only. A new improved Family Zone has been created in the Parkside Stand, located in Block A.
Monthly Onward Card Pricing (10 monthly payments)
Standing
Seating
Premium
Adult
£17.00
£24.00
£30.00
Senior
£12.00
£18.00
£24.00
Under 25
£12.00
£18.00
£24.00
Under 16
£2.30
£5.00
£5.00
A number of existing Onward Card holders signed up for the club’s auto renewal process. Payments for the new season will be taken out of your account on July 1st. The club will be contacting members directly via e-mail and post over the next 48 hours.
If you wish to upgrade, move your ticket to another part of the ground, or switch to monthly payments, please contact the club directly via onward@fleetwoodtownfc.com
For fans who would like to pay up front, Onward Cards are available from £170 for adults, £120 for Seniors and Under 25s and £23 for Under-16s. An administration charge is applicable for cash sales.
Onward Cards are available to buy from Tuesday 7th May at 9am, over the phone by calling (01253) 775080, in person at the Club Shop at Highbury Stadium, or online at www.onwardcard.co.uk
Fleetwood Town is today proud to announce the launch of its very own International Football Academy (FTIFA).
Based at the English Football League (EFL) club’s £10m Poolfoot Farm training base, the academy is open to aspiring players from around the world.
Through a series of structured four, 12 and 24-week residential courses, FTIFA provides players with an unrivalled platform to help realise their dreams of making it as a professional footballer.
Players not only receive expert UEFA-qualified coaching, bespoke training programmes – all tailored to their individual skills and development needs – but the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of scouts representing clubs in the UK and abroad.
The first players enrolled at FTIFA – who hail from as far afield as America, Africa, India and the Middle East – are already experiencing the full range of benefits this unique academy has to offer.
Fleetwood Town chairman Andy Pilley said: “Football is a global game and we know there is a huge amount of untapped talent out there.
“Our sensational training facilities here at Poolfoot Farm are among the best in the UK and so we want to open our doors to aspiring players, wherever they live, and give them the opportunity to learn from our top coaches.
“They will not only get the chance to train alongside our pro players and experience Premier League-standard facilities, but they will be able to showcase their talents to not only us but clubs here in the UK and around the world.
“Fleetwood Town is perhaps most famous internationally as the place where Jamie Vardy cut his teeth before becoming the Premier League star he is today. Who knows where FTIFA will lead us, maybe we’ll discover the next Jamie Vardy!
“This is a very exciting development for Fleetwood Town and the Fylde coast – it’s a true global search for football talent and we cannot wait to see what we discover.”
FTIFA is now being marketed around the world and academy managers have just returned from a promotional trip to Europe where they have been in talks with clubs and agents.
Mick Horsfall, FTIFA Head of Operations, said: “What makes this academy unique, compared to others in the UK, is that it is based within a professional football club.
“Every player that comes here will be treated like a pro footballer and get a true pro football experience. They will train alongside our first team, development and academy squads and be coached and mentored by FTFC’s elite academy coaches.
“They all get access to our stunning state-of-the art facilities which include top class FIFA-grade training pitches, gym and physiotherapy suite, classrooms and they eat in the same restaurant as the first team.
“Individual development is key. Players will be constantly assessed and evaluated, and their progress will be discussed with them throughout. Through bespoke training programmes and in-depth analysis we can clearly track their development and improvement.
“The aim is to make them better players, and be better equipped to make it. Their time at the academy really could be the start of these players’ pro careers.”
Among the first to join FTIFA is 24-year-old Godswill Erbahor from Nigeria, he added: “It’s extraordinary here. The facilities are amazing, the pitches, the physios, the gym it has all been amazing.
“The coaches work with us individually to look at our specific traits, our weaknesses and strengths. They really care about us footballers. The football is high quality. To see the elite players train here every day inspires you to be like them. I can learn so much from them.”
Jaylan White, 22, from New York followed up by saying: “Every day is a new experience and you are always learning. The coaches are always trying to better you as a player and that is what you need. This is one of the best facilities I’ve ever seen and I’m living my football dream here!”
To find out more information about the training packages available at Fleetwood Town International Football Academy (FTIFA) visit www.ftifa.co.uk or call 01253 208440.
