Swadlincote Electrical Supplies
19 December 2024
Sector: Electrical and Renewables Supplier
Location: South Derbyshire
Swadlincote Electrical Supplies is an independent electrical and renewables supplier located in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire.
Founded in 2004 by Directors Steve Morley and Andrew Jones, they provide electrical products, installation, and renewable energy systems for a range of customers from trade, commercial, industrial, on-line and retail. With 7 staff members, it has been operating for 20 years.
Challenges faced
The business has faced significant challenges, over the years but more recently with the current economic climate, costs have been increasing making it more difficult for the business to compete in the market.
Over the past four years, electricity costs have nearly tripled, presenting a serious barrier to the business's profitability and operational efficiency.
The rise of large, well-known online outlets with substantial buying power has made it difficult to compete in price, especially as these competitors often offer cheaper alternatives.
These challenges have intensified as the industry increasingly focuses on price competition, leaving smaller, independent businesses struggling to maintain market share.
Solution and Impact
As a member of East Midlands Chamber, Steve was made aware of the support available through his local Business Adviser, Sonny Lakhani. Sonny conducted a 1-to-1 business review, addressing the challenges Steve was facing, and provided tailored guidance on the support available through the South Derbyshire Accelerator project.
The Accelerator Project is funded by South Derbyshire District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.
Steve received a Diagnostic Action Plan for business growth, with a focus on placing "renewables at the heart" of the proposed expansion. This personalised support and advice has proven to be incredibly valuable for the business. They have benefited from a variety of services to improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and drive growth.
Steve accessed the Energy Grant Readiness Workshop, which helped the business establish its carbon baseline and identify areas of improvement. A decarbonisation plan was developed to support implementation of these improvements. The business was also successful in applying for a Decarbonation Grant, with £7,474 awarded to support installation of solar panels and an electric vehicle charging station at their premises. Additionally, Steve had regular meetings with Sonny, receiving essential ongoing guidance.
The impact on the business has been remarkable. It has become significantly more efficient, and with the upcoming installation of solar panels, its carbon footprint will be greatly reduced. The business has also calculated annual electricity savings of £2,973, representing a 61% reduction.
The decarbonisation support has enabled the business to adopt new techniques and processes and they are displaying real time data of energy usage across the business, as well as an interactive monitor showing production and export information. The business has also recruited an additional staff member to promote its new renewable stock lines, which have already seen positive results. The adviser support has played a crucial role in generating ideas for additional revenue streams and development of a new business model.
By embracing these changes, the business has not only improved its financial outlook but also ensured its long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive market.
“From start to finish the level of support and nurturing has been fantastic. A special mention for Sonny Lakhani who has gone above and beyond for my business and made time to visit my premises on a few occasions. The face-to-face meetings have been very helpful, overall I am very pleased with the complete package of support and advice I have received and very grateful for the experience.”
- Steve Morley, Managing Director
This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of South Derbyshire District Council.
