A volatile energy market – time to act

Following the UK strikes in Yemen, energy prices are set to spike again over the coming weeks. In conjunction with the current cold snap in the UK and the current political climate, the price of gas and energy are again exposed to volatility. This, alongside ongoing underfunding and wider challenges that the care sector has faced for the last decade due to Government inaction, presents an increasingly challenging background yet again for care providers to operate in.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England says:
“Care providers are being put under unsustainable pressure this winter period, and many aren’t benefitting governmental financial. In response, Care England conducted an energy tender and lowered the cost of energy for 100% of care providers who participated. While we continue to deliver pragmatic solutions for adult social care providers, practical action is crucial to safeguard from future energy price spikes where possible via the Care England tender.” 

60% of care providers cite utility bills as a key challenge and the second most cited cost pressure behind only workforce pay. Care England is responding accordingly, to ensure all care providers can alleviate some of their ongoing pressures.

In Care England’s new publication, ‘Savings, Solutions, and Sustainability,’ energy sector expert David Woodward, Director at Focus Energy Services Ltd, shared what care providers can do to ensure they obtain the best value and most sustainable energy contracts when it comes to buying gas and electricity contracts. In the article, David also highlights what constitutes a good energy broker, and outlines tips to make businesses more energy efficient.

Care England has also created a free to use Strategic Management Audit Repository Tool, containing a dedicated ESG module outlining where care providers can work toward environmental targets, including a section on energy usage and efficiency.

Professor Martin Green continues:
“Recent events have taught us that having our own solutions in place wherever possible is more important than ever; to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Energy is central not just to the wellbeing of people in receipt of care, but to a business itself.”