Growing energy firm opens second office

Growing Nelson-based energy specialist Businesswise Solutions is opening an office in Manchester to take advantage of the city’s development boom.

The energy procurement expert is headquartered in Nelson, but will open a second site in Princess Street, Manchester city centre, from September 1.

Managing director Frazer Durris said the company remained committed to Lancashire but stressed it was essential to have a presence in Manchester as an increasing amount of its work was coming from within the property sector.

He said: “We’ve doubled our workforce in 12 months to 26 and grown our turnover during the same period from £1.4m to £2m. Part of our growth strategy has been to open up a second site and Manchester is the obvious location.

“There is a huge amount of development taking place in Manchester and that’s only going to grow further,” he said.

“Our clients include DFS, Daisy Group, Burnley Football Club and Hotter Shoes but we’re increasingly working in the property sector with developers, management companies, investors, restaurants, bar chains, retailers and hotels. All those sectors are flourishing in Manchester so we have to be in the city.

“We have a number of London clients and they’re investing in Manchester so it’s very important we’re on the ground. It’s an exciting move.”

Businesswise Solutions was launched in 2010 and recently took an extra 2,500 sq ft of space at its headquarters in Lomeshaye Business Village, Nelson, Lancashire, following a £50,000 investment.

Durris said demand for their services has soared because of the combination of low crude oil prices and the launch of a new energy portal called UTILITYi, which enables clients to see energy consumption and cost in real-time on an online dashboard. “Businesses want to buy their energy in advance and we’ve signed an exclusive deal with several major suppliers which has made that easier,” said Durris.