Hollywood actor Michael Sheen has sprinkled some ‘Tinsel Town’ glitter on a Scottish community energy project on a recent visit to Edinburgh.
The star of ‘Frost Nixon’ and the ‘Damned United’ and his team met members of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations – the umbrella body for the country’s social entrepreneurs, activists, policy makers and general co-operators who work together to deliver a stronger social economy.
Amongst the organisations he met was Our Power Energy. Launched just two years ago, Our Power is an energy supplier created by social housing providers that aims to make energy fairer for all members of society.
During his visit, Sheen heard about the work of the group to narrow the gap in fuel inequality and fuel-poverty and met members of the team.
As the first energy supplier in the UK to operate on a profit-for-purpose, the company is 100% asset-locked, with all surpluses generated reinvested to benefit customers and their communities.
Comprising 53 member Scots housing associations and local authorities, Our Power offers one tariff, irrespective of how a customer chooses to pay, whether ‘Pay As You Go’ or Direct Debit. Over the next few months, it will announce a number of new offers to accelerate its growth – including the launch of a green tariff.
Alister Steele, Chairman and founder of Our Power Energy, said: “It was a real privilege to welcome Michael to Our Power and share with him our journey and plans to operate at significant scale across Scotland and the rest of the UK.
“Michael is a true champion of social enterprise in the UK, and we benefitted from his knowledge and enthusiasm, and hopefully we can continue to share ideas to make social enterprise an important part of a more equal economic growth.”
27 July 2017
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