Opus Energy powers charitable causes with over £100K in 2012

Opus Energy, the Northampton and Oxford-based energy supplier, has continued to champion good causes throughout 2012, including:

• The launch of a £10K video competition - Opus Energy Gift - which helped power the projects of charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations;
• Employee fundraising of over £10K for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, a figure which Opus Energy will match; and
• A sponsored race day and a shoot for the Heaton-Ellis Trust, a charity set up to help fund research into motor neurone disease. The events raised a combined total of £94K.

The £10K prize from the Opus Energy Gift video competition went to ten great causes. Amongst the winners was the Oxford Food Bank, which won £3,000. The charity picks up fresh food that would otherwise get thrown away and delivers it to those in need. Opus Energy spoke to the Oxford Food Bank to find out how the money helped them move to new premises in November; the interview is available on the Opus Energy Gift website: http://www.opusenergygift.com/winners/oxford-food-bank.

Opus Energy has also continued its partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Trust, pledging that its employees would raise a further £10,000 for the charity this year, a figure which the company will match. Employees are delighted that their fundraising activities have exceeded this target, raising £11,000 to date. Of this, a staggering £4,377 was raised by five Opus Energy employees who cycled from London to Paris. One rider commented: "I recommend anyone to take part in the London to Paris Bike ride if they have the opportunity to do so! Not only will you be raising money for a great cause, but the sense of achievement in cycling 300 miles is a wonderful feeling. Opus Energy was kind enough to give me that chance and I will be forever grateful that they did." Information on the company’s fundraising activities is available on the Opus Energy Challenge website: http://opusenergychallenge.com/previousfundraising11.htm.

During 2012 Opus Energy has also been proud to sponsor an adrenalin-fuelled charity horse race, which helped to raise £38,000, and a shooting event which raised over £56,000. The money will be used by motor neurone disease charity, the Heaton-Ellis Trust. Professor Christopher Shaw, who leads King’s College London’s research into discovering causes and cures for the disease commented: “Money from the Trust is helping fund research into the genes that cause motor neurone disease. This means that my team can stay focused on their vital research, with the ultimate aim that one day we will find a cure for this devastating disease.”

Charlie Crossley Cooke, Managing Director, Opus Energy, comments: “It’s fantastic that we have been able to champion so many good causes this year. I extend my thanks to Opus Energy employees for their innovation and dedication towards fundraising for the CF Trust. As we head towards 2013, I wish our employees the best of luck with their training for the next charity event: the Silverstone Half Marathon.”

About Opus Energy

Opus Energy is the UK’s leading business energy supplier. The company was founded by Charlie Crossley Cooke in 2002 and now employs 450 people over its Northampton and Oxford-based offices.

Opus Energy supplies more than 150,000 business locations across the UK with power. Customers include: White Stuff, Paperchase, Stagecoach, Pizza Hut and Virgin Media.

In addition to supplying energy, Opus Energy also purchases power from over 500 renewable generators in the UK which it then supplies to its customers.

The management team has a 50 per cent stake in the business, while GDF SUEZ holds 30 per cent and Telecom Plus Plc has 20 per cent.

For further information about Opus Energy, please visit www.opusenergy.com.

Opus Energy
Royal Pavilion
2 Summerhouse Road
Northampton
NN3 6BJ

For press enquiries, please contact:
Alexandra Dann
Opus Energy
T. 0845 218 2160
E. alexandra.dann@opusenergy.com

This release was published on openPR.