The service, offered on behalf of the FSB by cost-saving experts Make it Cheaper will enable members to compare rates for utilities, learn how to switch providers and assist with providing new and cancelling existing ones.
The service comes in response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into energy markets which revealed that SMEs in the UK pay around £500 million more per year than if competition were working effectively.
Research by the FSB also supports this with recent findings suggesting that 43 percent of businesses have never switched energy supplier and 70 per cent find it difficult to compare energy tariffs despite 90 per cent of SMEs wanting to be more energy efficient.
Small firms are also calling out to energy companies for a fairer and more transparent market and only 27 per cent believe there is enough competition in the energy market according to an FSB survey last year.
FSB operations director, Dave Stallon, said: “Energy is an increasingly important issue for smaller businesses. There are many ways they can make substantial savings through the implementation of energy efficiency measures as well as ensuring they get the best tariff they can on their gas and electricity.”
The FSB believes that the main obstacles that prevent small businesses from becoming more energy efficient are working from rented or leased premises, a lack of concern about energy costs or lack of understanding about the amount they could save and limited capital for energy efficiency investment.
The new service could generate average annual savings of 23 per cent for new customers switching their gas and electricity provider which works out at £973 off the average annual energy bill of £4,243 for FSB members.
Stallon added: “Our new service is designed to give smaller business owners easy to use advice they can trust, to enable them to make savings with the minimum of fuss. We are also very actively engaged with the CMA to improve the energy market for smaller businesses and are offering resources and advice on energy efficiency.”