Best Start-Up or Emerging Business of the Year sponsored by Gateley Capitus: Share Energy
Highly commended: farmdrive
The company became the latest addition to Northern Ireland’s energy market towards the end of 2024, launching with plans to “revolutionise” the market.
The energy market in Northern Ireland had been shrinking in the time leading up to Share’s launch, with the closure of Bright in 2022, and Electric Ireland moving out of the domestic energy market.
In their entry to the awards, the company said: “Locally-owned Share Energy is revolutionising Northern Ireland’s energy market with innovative pricing models and customer-focused solutions, growing from zero to 8,000+ customers in just six months.”
“As the fastest-growing provider, we offer market-leading rates and a first-of-its-kind profit-sharing model, transforming energy affordability, transparency, and sustainability while putting customers first.”
Share Energy’s profit-sharing model is one of its key selling points. The scheme offers to split 50% of the profits made by the company among customers in the form of a once-per-year dividend.
The dividend is dependent on the company making money, and it notes that it will likely take time to make it into the black.
The company has tried to innovate in other ways, for example by offering a reduced cost for night-time electricity users, which is aimed at EV owners who are charging overnight.
Speaking after winning the award, Damian Wilson, CEO of Share Energy said the early months of business have been “fabulous”.
“We launched into the market six months ago. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster, but it’s been two years in the planning.
“And it’s really down there customers, more than anything, that we’ve done this, and the fabulous team that we have around us, they’ve made it such a memorable six months.
“We’ve come into the market to try and disrupt it with her offer, which is, you know, they give a little bit back. It’s not about, you know, taking more.
“It’s about giving back. We’re happy to take less on everything and disrupt the market and change it and just be different out there.”
Mr Wilson said opening a new business in a closed market like energy has been “tough”: “tI takes a lot of money, a lot of investment and a lot of time and effort.
“Like I said, it’s been two years in the making, and then it’s getting that trustworthiness out there, to let people know that you’re there for a long time.”
Winning the award marks the end of a successful launch for the new company, and Mr Wilson said it plans more ambitious moves.
“Hopefully our customers keep coming on and staying with us. Then we hopefully move into the Republic of Ireland, then across to GB.”