Challenger energy supplier Utilita has announced it has become a patron of The Prince’s Trust, the charity set up by Prince Charles.
The Hampshire-based supplier, which was recently named by Ofgem as supplier of last resort (SoLR) for the customers of Our Power, says it hopes the “significant investment” it is providing will help the trust support a further one million young people over the next decade.
Bill Bullen, chief executive of Utilita, said: “We are delighted to become a patron of an organisation whose work I have always admired and which operates in many of the towns and cities around the UK where our customers live.
“It’s record of achievement over the decades is very impressive and if our involvement can help it achieve its ambition to reach a further one million young people then that is something of which everyone at Utilita can be very proud.
“We see it as a practical example of living our values and a way of giving additional meaning to our company strapline of ‘life with power’ by giving young people the power to shape their lives for the better.”
Utilita has nearly 800,000 customers and employs almost 2,000 staff.
The energy supplier says the relationship with the trust will create opportunities for its employees to participate in fundraising and volunteering programmes working with young people.
Joanne Dolan, head of business development at The Prince’s Trust, said: “We can only deliver the important work that we do with the help of our generous donors, supporters and volunteers so we are delighted to welcome Utilita into our community of patrons.
“The support they give literally transforms the lives of some of the most vulnerable young people in society.”
In April last year, Toto Energy transferred thousands of its customers on prepayment meters to Utilita.
Toto said it had been “pushing hard” to improve all aspects of its business and made the decision for the “good” of customers.