Background
Following the collapse of the large energy companyFleetwood Town Football Club
In 2004, Pilley became involved with theBusiness Energy Solutions (BES Utilities)
2002: Business Energy Solutions
In the midst of deregulation in the UK energy market, Pilley founded his gas brokerage business, BES Utilities. He was later joined by his sister Michelle Davidson.2005: Gas supply licence granted
In February 2005, a gas supply licence was approved for Business Energy Solutions Ltd.2008: Gas shipper licence approved
After receiving a licence from2009: Electricity licence granted
Pilley acquired an electricity supply licence for BES Commercial Electricity Ltd in 2009 (both companies now form the BES Utilities group). Since then, the companies have seen significant growth, and they are now one of the largest employers on the Fylde coast, with over 200 staff based at their Head Office in Fleetwood, Lancashire.2014: Shortlisted for top industry awards
BES Utilities was shortlisted for the Treating Customers Fairly Award in The Utilities & Telecoms Awards 2014.2018: South Africa expansion
In 2018, BES Utilities created a new customer relations team based in Cape Town, South Africa.2019: BES Utilities and ESPO contract
BES Utilities signed a contract with ESPO worth an estimated £600m that aims to decrease energy costs for public sector, including emergency services, schools, and more.BES Utilities Legal Action
In January 2018, BES Utilities settled a High Court case against two men, in which the company had alleged that they had made false claims about the company for three years. 10] Following the hearing in the High Court at Manchester, the defendants were issued with court orders containing penal notices. They gave undertakings to the court to cease their behaviour and remove any published reference to BES, its directors, employees, agents, and representatives. If the men fail to comply with the order, they may be held in contempt of court and be fined or imprisoned. The court also ordered that if the defendants breach the undertakings, they would be required to pay £250,000 towards BES’s substantial legal costs. Both defendants signed the following statement: “We withdraw any allegation of fraud or dishonesty against Business Energy Solutions Limited and BES Commercial Electricity Limited, their directors, officers, agents, legal advisers, and other professional representatives.” Should Andy and those facing similar charges be found guilty following the outcome of the ongoing trial, the allegations made by the two men against BES Utilities may prove not to be false.Criminal Investigation and Fraud Charges
In September 2021 after a 5-year fraud investigation, Pilley was charged with multiple fraud charges concerning his running of BES Utilities. Fraud charges included two counts of running a business to defraud creditors or others by allowing the fraudulent mis-selling of energy supply contracts, allowing fraudulent mis-selling by sales representatives, and being concerned with the retention of criminal property. The criminal trial is currently taking place as of October 2022 at Preston Crown Court.OFGEM Investigation
BES Utilities was investigated by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), which found that BES failed to explain in sufficient detail customer contract details and, in some cases, wrongly blocked 108 customers from switching suppliers. The Ofgem investigation resulted in a fine of £2.00, with an agreed redress package of circa £980,000 paid by BES by way of a charitable donation to a debt advice charity and via compensation payments to several affected customers. OFGEM InvestigationSmart Choice Metering Ltd
In 2019, Andy announced the launch of his own specialist metering services division following the acquisition of Liverpool-based metering, asset, and management company, Access Install. All 80 existing jobs were protected, and there will be a further seven-figure investment in the next 12 months. The acquisition strengthens his company's smart meter offering as the government aims to install more than 53 million smart meters in homes and businesses by the end of 2025, this includes a partnership with energy supplier Green.Commercial Power Ltd
Formed in 2005, Commercial Power is one of the biggest and most established gas and electricity aggregators in the UK, having helped over 300,000 commercial businesses make savings on their gas and electricity bills.Card Saver Ltd
Formed in August 2014 by Andy and Michelle Davidson, Card Saver is one of the UK’s fastest-growing and award-winning card payment processing providers, helping businesses accept secure card payments in-store, online, or over the phone. Card Saver is rated amongst the top 10 payment providers in the UK, and in 2018 received the ISO of the Year award from Optomany.Breck Apartments Blackpool
Opened by Andy in 2016, Breck Apartments offers luxury boutique apartments situated in the heart of Blackpool. Comprising six one and two-bedroom apartments overlooking the beach along Blackpool’s famous coastline, Breck Apartments are proud to offer five-star service and attention to detail.Charity, Community & Sponsorship
Fleetwood Town Community Trust
In 2012, Pilley and fellow trustees founded thTrinity Hospice
Andy is a supporter of Trinity Hospice. In the Summer of 2013, BES Utilities supported the Trinity Hospice Corporate Challenge, and more recently, Card Saver has donated merchant service terminals to Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice enabling members of the public to donate by card rather than having to look for loose change.Tackling Bullying in Schools
In February 2019 it was announced that Andy and FTFC would pledge £10,000 to help tackle bullying in schools by supporting a ground-breaking training programme headed up by local Human Behaviour Trainer and Success Coach, Norry Ascroft. Following on from the success earlier in the year Andy, along with BES Utilities and Card Saver, pledged a further £20,000 to the MADD About Bullying programme, supporting over 300 schools in the North West directly.Providing free and at-cost electricity for Blackpool Illuminations
BES Utilities sponsored Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool illuminations, providing free electricity in 2014 and half-price electricity in 2015. Their sponsorship was worth over £100,000 over two years – the biggest donation to the Lights in more than a decade.Sponsor of local champion boxer, Brian Rose
Fleetwood Town FC, BES Utilities, and Card Saver all sponsor local professional boxer Brian 'The Lion' Rose. As well as providing sponsorship, Andy has given Brian full use of the state-of-the-art facilities at Poolfoot Farm, along with access to coaches and physios.Maintaining East Pines Park
In 2018, Andy and Fleetwood Town FC partnered with East Pines Park and offered to maintain their football pitches. The pitches were often completely out of use due to poor drainage, and after playing football at East Pines Park at a young age, Andy decided to step in and help. Following extensive improvement work and maintenance by the grounds team from Fleetwood Town, the pitch now plays host to a variety of community football sessions for youngsters as well as weekly walking football sessions for older players.Support for Amputee Footballers
The story of a local young footballer, Jamie Oakey, who was born with one foot inspired Andy to support England’s next generation of amputee players. Jamie, who was named in the England Amputee FA’s under-23 squad, is also part of a group of junior players hoping to take part in an international training camp in Hoffenheim, Germany, in July. To get there the young amputees and their families needed to raise £5,000, so Andy decided to provide financial support for the German training camp as well as give the England squad free use of the Cod Army’s Poolfoot Farm training base whenever they needed it.More
* Sponsor of Thornton Christmas Lights * Creation of the BES Fund to support businesses struggling with energy or other debts * Funder of national charity, Business DebtlinePolitical views
Pilley endorsed theReferences
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pilley, Andrew 1970 births Living people English businesspeople Fleetwood Town F.C. People from Blackpool English football chairmen and investors Conservative Party (UK) people