Energy broker plans to give it all away

AN energy broker who sold his business to Inspired Energy two years ago has set up a new venture that will give all its profits to charity.

Corin Dalby is launching Box Power, a community interest company that will supply companies of all sizes and position itself as an ethical broker.

The Bolton-based operation will donate a third of profits to an autism charity Mr Dalby is setting up with his wife Tricia called The Box Foundation, while the rest will be split between Macmillan Cancer Support and local hospices.

Mr Dalby sold Direct Energy Purchasing to Kirkham-based Inspired Energy for £4m. In the year to March 31, 2011, it had sales of £1.2m and pre-tax profits of £700,000.

He said: “I’ve been on a sabbatical because there was an exclusion period. I intended to stay retired until I decided the best way I knew to give to charity was to go back into the industry and build a new business that could be bigger and better.

“The key staff have been lined up and the suppliers are on board. We’re planning to take on about 30 staff in the first year.”

Mr Dalby said it will be the first ethical energy broker in the UK out of some 400 operators.