Smart Energy GB wins gold at the CIPR PRide Scotland Awards

Smart Energy GB has won two awards at the CIPR PRide Scotland Awards 2018 for its campaign to raise awareness of the smart meter rollout in Scotland. The campaign scooped gold in the Best Event category for its Cooking local, local cooking Smart event and silver in the Not-for-profit campaign category for the overall smart meter campaign in Scotland.

"Cooking local, cooking smart" was undertaken as part of Smart Energy GB's Scottish external relations strategy and was developed as a public affairs activity to engage with as many MSPs as possible during Scotland Food and Drink Fortnight. The intention of the event was to increase awareness among Members of the Scottish Parliament of the smart meter rollout and how smart meters can be used in a domestic setting to reduce household energy consumption and lower family energy costa and to encourage Members of the Scottish Parliament to use their communications channels to disseminate information about the smart meter rollout.

During the course of the one-hour event, 45 MSPs were engaged in discussion around the purpose of the event, smart meters and the national rollout. This included 5 party leaders or leadership candidates, 4 Cabinet Secretaries, 6 Government Ministers and 6 Shadow Cabinet members. Many of the MSPs published their visit to the stall over their Twitter accounts which resulted in 371,889 impressions cumulatively.

Commenting on the win, Iagan MacNeil, Head of Policy at Smart Energy GB, said:

"The task of telling everyone in Scotland that they are entitled to a smart meter from their energy supplier is no easy undertaking. It requires the creation of work that will grab the attention of myriad audiences and the development of campaigns that really stand out from the crowd. So I'm absolutely delighted that our campaign has been recognised at the CIPR PRide awards - these wins are testament to the creativity and passion of the Scottish team in consistently delivering gold standard work."

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

About Smart Energy GB

Smart Energy GB is the voice of the smart meter rollout. It’s our task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to get their gas and electricity under control. Our national campaign is reaching households and microbusinesses in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit our website smartenergyGB.org

About smart meters and the rollout

Smart meters replace the traditional meters we currently have in our homes. They enable accurate bills, near real time information on energy use in pounds and pence, and greater control over the way we buy and use energy. The smart meter rollout is an essential technology upgrade, unprecedented in its scale, to improve Great Britain’s energy infrastructure.

There are already more than 12 million smart meters installed in homes and microbusinesses across Great Britain. Every household in England, Scotland and Wales will be offered one at no extra cost. Contact your energy supplier about getting your smart meter.

Smart Energy GB media contacts

For more information including interview requests, case studies of smart meter users, infographics, photography and video content please contact the Smart Energy GB media team:

Smart Energy GB: Helen Croney: [email protected]; 0131 322 6204 / 07921 458 041