Staveley-based LPG specialist AvantiGas has entered the mainstream gas market, establishing a new division to supply mains gas to business customers with a commitment to service and competitive, transparent pricing which the company claims will give it unique appeal in an increasingly crowded market.

AvantiGas is already a major contractor in off-grid fuel and heating but is confident it can make its mark in mains gas as well as LPG. The division’s Managing Director Dean Ewart said the enterprise had a sufficiently strong unique selling proposition to make it attractive to business customers. The new subsidiary is already up and running.

Mr Ewart said that the new entrant was already showing business customers that they can trust them to always give good value and clarity:-

“Our typical clients are businesses which are looking for cost efficiencies through their energy contracts. We will be offering a high-quality digital service but operating with a low-cost base, so that we can always offer good value with no hidden extras.

“When a customer contract ends and they haven’t negotiated a new one, our customers go on to our standard tariff, which is always competitively priced. Most or possibly all our competitors put the client on a very high default tariff. We won’t be doing that. It’s a matter of establishing trust with our clients so that they know they will always get a fair deal.

“We‘re also more digitally enabled than our competitors – we keep things simple, clear and understandable and customers can do it all online. They can log on, interact and get information. What we’re essentially trying to do is empower the customer to be able to do everything for themselves, at the time they want to do it.

“We had a soft launch in June to test systems, prove our process and perfect our customer journey with our very first customers, and we launched fully on October 30.”

Mr Ewart said that business customers were open to and interested in the proposition of new competitors:-

“The market has been getting used to us as a new entrant and interested businesses have been testing us to find out what we’re about – do our systems work, do they believe that we’re here to stay? But we’re now seeing more people taking that leap and joining us.”

He also stressed that the company was “in it for the long-term” and was backed by AvantiGas owners UGI, the American conglomerate which has been continually widening its reach with new acquisitions across Europe since AvantiGas was created in 2011, when UGI bought the former Shell LPG business.

“Our arrival builds the AvantiGas brand and expands its market place. Any business that comes to us can have confidence that we are a well-funded, long-term aspiration company, with the backing of UGI. They are investing properly to make a sustainable business.”

Mr Ewart said his management team had a combined experience in the energy industry of more than 60 years. His own career to date has included positions with British Gas, Gaz de France and the German energy giant RWE.

Neil Murphy, CEO of UGI International (North) said:-

”We’ve expanded our AvantiGas offering to not only supply rural, off-grid homes and businesses with LPG but also to supply mainstream business markets with natural gas. So any business which has both on and off-grid premises can use AvantiGas as their sole supplier. Most competitors can’t do that, but it’s something we already do successfully in the US and across Europe. We think this gives us another unique advantage.”

Redbrik Estate Agency has appointed a new applicant manager to boost its thriving team.

Thea Cox will take up her new role at Redbrik’s busy Chesterfield office, based on Glumangate.

Thea’s previous employers include Treetops Nursery and Lilypad Café, and she is now hoping to bring her top customer service skills to the estate agency.

Thea said:-

“I’ve always had a strong interest in property and architecture so I am excited to get stuck into my new role at Redbrik.

“I love the way that Redbrik look after their clients, and providing excellent customer service is something I feel very strongly about. I can’t wait to learn new skills and become part of a really strong team.”

Julie Bulheller, Director at Redbrik, said:-

“Thea is a real people person and completely embodies the Redbrik ethos of putting the customer first.

“I am thrilled that she has chosen to embark on the next stage of her career here at Redbrik and I’m certain she will be a great asset to the fantastic team already assembled in our Chesterfield office.”

Chartered Accountancy firm BHP has reinforced its commitment to training the next generation of accountants, by recruiting 20 apprentices, graduates and placement students to work across five of the firm’s departments in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Leeds, Cleckheaton and York.

The Apprentices will work within the Audit and Accounts Department, the Tax Department, the Healthcare Department and for BHP’s outsourcing business – Prosper. The two year programme will see the Apprentices work towards the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) qualifications.

Six of the seven graduates working within the company’s Audit and Accounts Department will support experienced BHP staff who service a range of clients in the manufacturing, retail, creative and digital industries. They will undertake a three year training agreement to attain the Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) qualification and become Chartered Accountants.

The seventh graduate will be working alongside some of the apprentices within the recently formed outsourcing business Prosper – an innovative competitively priced service which provides financial, technical and commercial support to small and medium sized enterprises.

Four budding accountancy professionals are joining BHP on a one year professional placement programme. Working in Audit and Accounts and the award winning Corporate Finance Department, the placement students are all on track for at least a 2:1 degree at University, and had to demonstrate a high level of enthusiasm, commitment, professionalism and academic ability to gain one of the coveted placements.

BHP is Yorkshire’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, ranked 33 in the Top 50 firms nationally, BHP employs over 300 people.

Lisa Leighton, Partner at BHP says:-

“Each year we make a huge commitment to the professional development and training of the next generation of accountants, and this year we have selected some of the finest students who are not only talented, but have a genuine passion for the industry.

“Recruiting apprentices, graduates and placements students enables us to give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed in their chosen field, and we can’t wait to start introducing these talented young people to our team and clients.”