Voices of small organisations

Our latest Energy Diaries is here. The fourth edition in the series focusing on small businesses and charities, as we gain insight into their perspectives on energy.

'Energy Diaries: Voices of small organisations', uncovers how the cost-of-living challenges and gas and energy use is impacting the decision making of small businesses and charities.

To support small businesses and charities, we’ve collaborated with Energy Saving Trust to deliver new and verified hints and tips.

The impact on Charities

As cost-of-living challenges show no sign of slowing, vulnerable communities have never needed charities more. Yet those who provide such crucial services are seriously struggling, as many admit to feeling anxious about closing in the next five years, while they are reducing and changing services being provided today. Among the challenges uncovered:

• Over half (56%) of charities are heating empty or underused buildings at times, due to hybrid working.
• Sustainability is not a priority for over one third of charities (45%), while over half (52%) are anxious about whether they will be operating in the next five years.
• Two in five (43%) admit they are reducing the number of staff in the organisation, or actively pausing hiring of new staff.

The impact on small businesses

The latest Energy Diaries report highlights that Britain could be set to enter the era of the vulnerable business. As heating is now seen as a luxury for some organisations, small businesses are increasingly worried about their electricity bills and, as such, their long-term existence. Among the challenges uncovered:

• Half of SMEs agree that heating is becoming a luxury for some organisations in the UK.
• Two in five (39%) are anxious about whether their business will be operating in the next five years, with electricity bills having the biggest impact on SMEs.
• One third (33%) are reducing the number of staff in their organisation or pausing hiring of new staff.