Community Switch plugs into North West Fund

AN energy switching firm has been backed with a £250,000 equity investment by the North West Fund.

Community Switch is targeting social housing tenants who it says can save £370 a year through better energy deals.

The company, which has links with Manchester-based developer PlaceFirst through director David Smith-Milne, earns commission from energy suppliers.

It has plans to access energy users through relationships with social landlords and has struck three deals with Wigan and Leigh Housing, Salix Homes in Salford and Blackburn-based Twin Valley Homes, which are responsible for a total of more than 40,000 properties.

PlaceFirst is already working with Twin Valley Homes on a project to refurbish 200 houses that were left derelict following the demise of Labour’s Pathfinder housing market renewal scheme.

Community Switch has taken office space in Liverpool and has been supported by the Energy & Environmental sub-fund of the European Union-backed North West Fund, which is managed by 350 Investment Partners.

Managing director Patrick Berry said: “Our USP [unique selling point] is that we provide this service to social housing tenants via the trusted source of their landlord. We provide a full and transparent service with Ofgem accredited services and website and very much look forward to helping tenants to cut energy bills by up to £370 a year.”