Energy market game-changer speaks to Business students

The founder of a revolutionary new ethical energy company has been speaking to Birkenhead Sixth Form College students about changing the model of how business can work.

Cheryl Latham, CEO of Brighter World Energy, visited the College to talk to Business A Level students about her innovative new energy supplier that gives a fair deal to UK customers while directly helping poorer villages in developing countries.

Brighter World Energy was launched less than two months ago as Ms Latham’s answer to what she described as UK energy companies overcharging customers, and businesses’ ethical responsibilities being a non-priority.

Through avoiding both subscribing to comparison sites and paying inflated ‘fat cat’ salaries, Brighter World Energy is able to offer customers a fair price for their energy if they switch. Every customer that switches also helps fund solar panels to be installed in African villages, providing electricity for lighting and refrigeration, which are crucial for sustaining and improving the communities’ economies and ways of life.

Ms Latham, who hails from Liverpool, said: “Consumers can think that the whole energy market is the same so that’s why we created Brighter World. When people turn on the lights, they are doing some good somewhere else in the world.”

A former senior journalist for national titles, Ms Latham decided on a change of career path at the age of 29, and called upon knowledge gathered from her previous job to influence her new line of work.

She said: “When I was a business editor, I was always astounded at how the energy industry made so much money, and they would always say and do the same things. I was fed up, to be honest. I couldn’t understand how we were constantly being overcharged for something as essential as a utility.

“I was fascinated by the idea of creating a company with genuine values, for people here and elsewhere in the world, so I started to investigate the energy market and see where the ‘fat’ was, but also why people felt uninspired to switch. A lot of it is down to the consumer themselves. As consumers, we’ve got to make sure that we’re on the right deal but sometimes that’s not enough. That’s where Brighter World can differentiate itself from other providers.”

On speaking with the Business students, Ms Latham, 32, drew on her own career experience and said: “I hope that the students realise that the decisions that they make now aren’t always for keeps, and you change your mind later on in your career if you’re willing to work hard for it. Right now can feel a very daunting time for this age group, with university decisions and A Levels, and you feel like the decisions you make will be with you for life. But if you’re focused and hard-working, you can make changes that feel right for you at any time.”

Birkenhead Sixth Form College Business teacher, Kerry Fairclough, said: “Having someone like Cheryl here to speak to our aspiring entrepreneurs really brings to life the drive and determination that’s required for people to succeed. Hers is an inspirational story and it’s fantastic to see someone wanting to make a difference to people’s lives, both here and around the world. For the students to speak to someone successful in what they do, someone like Cheryl who was not driven by money, is a great lesson in business.”