Our Meet the Small Supplier series features independent UK gas and electricity suppliers. We interview them to learn more about who they are, what makes them different, and why you might choose to devote your energy to them.

As Robin Hood EnergyJade Kirk’s Director of Customer Services describes how the energy industry’s first non-profit gas and electricity supplier was born and where it’s headed next.

Switch: Can you tell us a little more about the beginnings of Robin Hood Energy and how you got to where you are now?

Jade Kirk: We launched in September 2015 with the aim of tackling fuel poverty and providing low cost energy to households across Britain. So many people didn’t understand their bills and weren’t happy with the Big Six Energy Suppliers, so we decided to create the industry’s first locally owned non-profit energy supplier.

We still have less than a year, but we would like to think that we have helped our customers get a better deal on their energy and offered them an alternative to “traditional” energy providers.

Switch: What makes Robin Hood Energy unique in the energy market?

Jade Kirk: Being the very first non-profit energy supplier owned by local authorities is a given. We don’t have any private shareholders or director bonuses to pay, which means we can make sure our clients get the best deals available. On top of that, we really want to tackle fuel poverty in Britain and help our customers better understand their energy use, and suggest ways to lower their bills through energy saving tips. It may sound cliché, but it has been the mission of the company since the very beginning.

Switch: Can you describe the philosophy of Robin Hood Energy in one sentence?

Jade Kirk: We fight energy poverty and help customers take control of their energy.

Switch: Do you have anything else to say about Robin Hood Energy?

Jade Kirk: We have a lot of very exciting things going on at Robin Hood Energy that will not only help us achieve our goal of tackling fuel poverty, but also allow us to deliver an even better experience for our customers – check out this space!