Get to know Adam Shuttleworth – strategic account manager at The Green Energy Advice Bureau (GEAB).
The part I play in the GEAB team involves…
Looking after our customers from day one of their contract, right up to renewal. If customers have a problem with their day-to-day billing, or general queries, they come straight to me and I will liaise with the supplier on their behalf. My job is to take the time and hassle away from business owners, by managing their energy contracts for them. I’m also their port of call for consultations for additional sites, or additional meters. Lots of our customers have multiple sites, but due to contract lengths they might not purchase their energy for all premises on the same day. There are also lots of hidden areas for savings that customers are unaware of, for example VAT rebates. I’ve worked with customers to secure them refunds for expenses their business never should have been charged. I’d say my role is 50% sales and 50% consultation. VAS is my daily motto here – value added service. That’s what I strive to deliver every day for my customers. Over the years, my portfolio has grown to the extent that I am now working with so many returning customers, I can really see the progress we have made in our services and client relationships, as well as the long term impact on these businesses. Over time, you really get to know your customers and they know me well too, now. I think that’s one of the reasons I love my job so much – I enjoy building relationships and knowing I am genuinely helping the businesses we service.
The most surprising thing I’ve learned about commercial energy during my time at GEAB is…
How complicated it is. You have never learned everything you can about the industry. There is so much to unpick and, as soon as you’ve grasped one element, either regulations or suppliers change, so you’ve got to learn the basics all over again. At first I found it daunting, but to be honest I think it’s the reason I’ve managed to really build a career in this industry – there is no danger of being bored, or feeling like your role is becoming redundant. Businesses need the support we offer and it keeps me on my toes having to keep my industry knowledge up to date. In fact, an example of the importance of market knowledge is when I recently managed to secure a solar rebate of £44,000 for one of my customers. The success of this supplier challenge was based on intense scrutiny, research and perseverance from out team here at GEAB. I worked closely with a colleague in the operations department over about 20 months to contest incorrect payments for a business, who hadn’t been able to solve this problem without the help of a consultant. The knowledge, processes, paperwork and time involved in this case seemed endless, but there was no better feeling than being able to call that customer and tell her that we had finally sorted it. It really goes to show how easy it is to miss out on savings or information without the support of an industry expert.
The most memorable day I’ve had so far at GEAB was when…
We launched the Christmas countdown. In fact, this is something we do every year and I can’t say any given year was better than the rest. From October, the business sets a target for an early finish for Christmas – if we hit the target, we close the doors from as early as the first week in December. As you can imagine, the energy is absolutely electric. We really are like one big family here and we never feel more like a team than when we are working towards this annual incentive. It’s not always easy and some years have required serious graft to hit the numbers, but everybody pitches in. Last year we managed to hit target early and we got most of December off. It’s a great place to work and I’m already looking forward to this year’s countdown.
On my days off, I like to…
Play darts. I’m a massive darts fan and I actually play for a team every Friday night. I spend five nights a week training and I’ve finally been given permission to put a darts board up at home. I get coaching every week now – I take it really seriously. It’s a bit of a niche hobby, but I absolutely love it.
Something my team might not know about me is…
I’m an open book – there’s not much my team don’t know about me to be honest. They know all about my darts, my partner and my dog, which is a miniature toy poodle. Those are my main priorities outside of work!
The Green Energy Advice Bureau is one of the UK’s leading commercial energy consultancy firms. To discuss how GEAB can find the right energy and sustainability solutions for your business, visit geab.com/portfolio-north or call 0191 821 0049.
