Npower looks to make marketing more responsive with hire
Seb JosephNpower is looking to inject more strategic expertise into its tactical marketing to get closer to homeonwers with the appointment of its first head of marketing strategy.
Utilities
Sprinkling the magic all over the show
Lucy HandleyHow are exhibitions and events evolving in the digital age and what can brands do to convert more leads into sales at trade fairs or consumer shows?
Could you be an Engage Awards 2014 Rising Star?
Branwell JohnsonRising Star 2013 winner Sarah Bulling, product communications manager, at LV=, explains what winning the trophy meant to her, how she improves her marketing skills and what trends she sees as important this year.
Ofgem bids to ‘restore consumer confidence’ with energy bill reforms
Seb JosephEnergy companies are to be banned from offering customers complex tariffs as part of a raft of reforms designed by regulator Ofgem to create a simpler and clearer market for consumers.
British Gas launches ad push to introduce connected services brand Hive
Seb JosephBritish Gas is launching a nationwide campaign to introduce its remote controlled central heating service Hive to the masses following its soft-launch late last year.
The Marketing Year
Sarah VizardWelcome to The Marketing Year, your guide to the good, the bad and the ugly in the marketing industry over the last 12 months.
Npower apologises after complaints hike
Seb JosephNpower has launched a campaign apologising to its 5.4 million customers for “not delivering the service” they deserve after a sharp rise in complaints this year.
Energy companies update price promises following Govt savings plan
Seb JosephMajor energy firms including British Gas and Npower have announced changes to their price promises as they look to pass on savings to customers following Government plans to cut fuel bills, a move likely to spark additional marketing in the coming weeks
Ofgem to create reassurance campaign
Seb JosephElectricity and gas regulator Ofgem is readying an advertising push to communicate to billpayers how they will be affected by upcoming reforms to the industry as it faces concerns from some politicians and campaign groups that it is not doing enough to clamp down on the price hikes from the big six.
BMW ties with Good Energy for electric car range
Ronan ShieldsBMW is looking to accelerate take-up of its electric car range in the UK following a partnership with energy provider Good Energy that allows owners of its electric cars to power their vehicles at home with 100 per cent green electricity.
Challenger energy brands ready marketing drives to exploit anger
Seb JosephFirst Utility, Ovo and Ecotricity are rushing to take advantage of widespread hostility towards the price hikes charged by four of the Big Six energy suppliers with low-key campaigns to woo disgruntled billpayers.
Royal Mail cites DM activity by energy companies for ‘good’ second-half start
Josie AllchinRoyal Mail says the flurry of marketing activity by energy companies to communicate and mitigate the impact of price rises has helped lift revenue at the start of the second half of its financial year.
‘Government energy tariff switching plans will spark marketing bubble’
Seb JosephGovernment plans to make switching between energy firms simpler will create a marketing bubble around the battle for billpayers, but will not improve apathy towards the Big Six as the “cost and time of switching” has never been the main issue, industry observers warn.
Energy suppliers: ‘Greater product diversity will fuel competition’
Seb JosephSenior executives from SSE, Npower and E.ON claim upcoming plans to ‘inject’ diversity into their products will help prove to customers they are getting a quality service, adding it will allow for greater competition across the sector.
Scottish Power launches reassurance push after £8.5m fine
Seb JosephScottish Power has launched a Twitter push to apologise “unreservedly’ to customers after it was fined £8.5m by Ofgem for mis-selling its services.