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As one of the leading utility consultancies in the UK, Business Cost Consultants is regularly quoted in news and trade press. Below you will find recent press coverage on Business Cost Consultants. Please email us if you would like to find out more about the content of these stories or if you would like to discuss how Business Cost Consultants could help your organisation in similar ways.
Bright ideas
Friday, October 26, 2007
Bakery Info Website
Two Scottish bakeries are tackling rising utility bills and their impact on the environment by carefully monitoring their power use.
As costs continue to rise, bakers are increasingly keen to find ways of cutting utilities bills.
Scottish companies Macleans Highland Bakery and Walkers Shortbread are examples of this trend. They have been working with a consultancy firm to see if they could reduce their energy bills and improve their environmental impact.
Reducing utility usage
Forres-based business Macleans has a main bakery and four shops, as well as a wholesale division. "In common with many bakeries, we were keen to reduce our utility usage and make cost savings," says managing director Lewis Maclean. "We were also eager to find ways of reducing our consumption and, consequently, cut our carbon footprint."
With a variety of upward pressures on business costs, Aberlour-based Walkers was also keen to make savings and reduce its carbon emissions from its factories and shops in the north-east of Scotland. "We are very heavy users of utilities in our production processes," says Nicky Walker, general manager of Walkers. "So any savings we can make go straight to the bottom line. We are also keen to reduce our carbon footprint and the consultants have suggested a number of ways in which we can do this."
Data Loggers
For Macleans, the plan is to install data loggers, which allows gas, electricity and water consumption to be remotely monitored. Analysts at Business Cost Consultants will analyse the data and send specialists on-site to identify ways of reducing energy and water consumption.
Business Cost Consultants' managing director Donald Maclean says: "Macleans is quite a large user of electricity, water and gas in its production processes so utilities are quite significant business costs. Overall, we expect to be able to reduce utility costs by between 10% and 20% and we are working with the bakery to make sure resources are being used efficiently and in an environmentally sound manner."
Smart data loggers are also to be installed at Walkers, where the company is facing increasing cost pressures on ingredients, caused by bad weather, dietary changes in Eastern countries and the fact that countries are diverting significant amounts of raw materials towards biofuels.
"We are confident of making substantial savings per annum," says Business Cost's Donald Maclean. "That includes reductions of over 20% on water and telecom costs." The analyst will highlight potential savings for the firm and advise on how utility procurement could be improved.
Remote monitoring
Business Cost Consultants, which previously traded as Audits Unlimited, specialises in the remote monitoring of energy and water consumption and offers an independent utilities advice service.
Based near Glasgow, the company manages several thousand clients' sites, from Inverness in the north to the south of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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Celtic and Rangers achieve huge water savings and meet environmental goals
Monday, October 01, 2007
Press Release
Celtic and Rangers Football Clubs' plan to conserve energy and meet their environmental obligations has been greatly advanced with huge reductions in water consumption thanks to the help of Business Cost Consultants, a Glasgow-based utility consultancy.
The clubs are working with Business Cost Consultants to provide a complete utility management service covering electricity, gas, water and telecoms. Being completely independent Business Cost Consultants is able to negotiate the best prices from utility suppliers. By using their expertise and market intelligence, Business Cost Consultants advise the clubs on the best time to purchase energy contracts in very volatile markets. The company constantly monitors the clubs' bills and consumption data to make sure that utilities are being employed in the most efficient way. This involves using sophisticated technology such as data loggers which continuously monitors and tracks gas, electricity and water consumption and flags up exceptions for further investigation.
Over the last 12-18 months, Business Cost Consultants has worked with both Celtic and Rangers football clubs to minimise their water consumption. Reductions of approximately 40% and 60%, respectively, were achieved. The clubs' energy consumption is next on the agenda.
Ross Macaskill, Facilities Manager at Rangers Football Club commented, "By accurately monitoring our usages Business Cost Consultants were able to recommended quantifiable cost savings with respect to all utilities with the largest saving to date centering around our water costs. Due to match day demands we traditionally suffered from water shortages through the course of an event. With the help of Business Cost Consultants this is no longer an issue and perhaps more importantly the ongoing yearly savings associated with these works far outweigh all capital expenditure."
Malcolm Simpson, Head of Facilities at Celtic Football Club said: "Actions speak louder than words and Business Cost Consultants has proven their worth by obtaining best value for our utilities provision as well as assisting the club to reduce our overall energy budget. They are a valued member of our Facilities team."
For further information about Celtic Football Club please visit www.celticfc.net
For further information about Rangers Football Club please visit www.rangers.co.uk
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