Daniel SCHOUTEN
Recent Posts
Total UK enters into a fuel network agreement with Harvest Energy
Where to begin? The best place would probably be to describe the inception and growth of the Newcastle Direct Sales Team, in the 4 months since we got started. In summary - we began our journey with 8 Sales Execs and me, and we got straight to work on the Utilitywise Agency database. That way, we could ensure all of the customers who were used to being serviced through the TPI had someone different to talk to about extending their current contracts.
Fast forward to July 7th, and we have a new office, 21 Sales Executives, 3 Team Leaders (+ still me) so it’s fair to say recruitment has been one of the primary objectives across the end of Quarter 2! It’s been a whirlwind, to say the least, but the buzz and the excitement in the office ensure that no two days are the same and everyone is motivated and excited about what can be achieved as we continue to learn and grow.
My day starts with a short meeting with my 3 Team leaders, who share a daily forecast and a key KPI summary from the previous day. This gives us the data so we can make informed decisions on in-day focus – coaching strategy, and an understanding of who needs additional support. It also allows us to establish where we are against targets, allowing us to adjust focus if required (e.g. are we issuing enough quotes to market? Are we making enough customer contact/touchpoints? etc.)
Team Leaders then break off into their teams and spend some time relaying the previous day’s performance and daily objectives, as well as sharing market info and best practice so everyone is on message for the day ahead.
Core calling hours commence and the Sales Execs update their sales boards as and when they complete an extension with a customer, giving visibility to the whole team as to how we are performing as well as creating healthy competition across the sales operation.
Amongst that, I am there to support the whole team with tricky sales calls and obtaining the info they may need to be able to get deals over the line – TLs are on hand for ad-hoc support, between delivering coaching and training sessions across the course of the day.
The sales process here is mostly transactional so requires a lot of ‘thinking on your feet’ – as I have said, no two days or even two hours are the same. What we are doing and the way we are doing it is new, working solely from a matrix and outside of the core TGP systems, so another big part of my role is to grow and develop the right processes so that the Sales Executives jobs can be made as easy as possible.
We have a great team in Newcastle – a mixed bag of energy experience, sales experience and life experience. Everyone has embraced and enjoyed (or so they tell me…) the journey so far!
Knight Frank backs 100% renewable power!
Knight Frank, a major business customer and leading independent global consultancy, has contracted to purchase only 100% renewable electricity for its properties under management.
Production in Major North Sea Culzean Gas Field Starts
Production has started on the massive Culzean gas field in the North Sea. Operator Total said the field, 140 miles (225km) off Aberdeen, will be responsible for 5% of the UK's gas needs when it reaches peak production.
Oil major Total targets expansion into European retail power market
Total is looking to broaden its revenue streams with expansion in a retail power and gas market in which demand is shifting to low-carbon energy from more polluting fossil fuels.
As mergers go we’ve had some big ones…Vodafone and Mannesman, America Online and Time Warner, Beyonce and Jay-Z, and not to mention Fina, Elf and Total…but they don’t get much bigger than this. Yes, Major Business Retention and Acquisition have recently merged to create Major Business Direct Sales a new dedicated sales channel boasting an elite team of nine and headed up by Ken McCaig.
Total Becomes First Oil Major To Invest In Saudi Fuel Retail Market
Ibstock Brick is the largest clay building products manufacturer in the UK - making over 400 different bricks. The manufacturing of this capacity of bricks results in them being a significant energy user. As a market leader they believe that they have the responsibility to lead by example when it comes to energy management and energy use reductions. Over the last decade they have invested over £75 million in energy efficiency projects.
I can’t say any day within TPI is the same, my routine changes depending on my diary. There are two main kinds of day. An ‘office’ one and an ‘on the road’ one.
I’ll start with a typical day on the road. We have a number of partners that we work with; I manage these relationships alongside a team of Business Development Managers and Account Managers. Generally days out of the office start early and on a train up north to either Newcastle, Leeds or Liverpool where a lot of my partners are based. After battling the tube and escalators across London with a wheelie bag (something I always look forward to), I then attempt to battle with the train Wi-Fi for a few hours. I generally lose this battle and so I’ve learnt to do planning or to catch up with what is going on in the industry.
Total becomes founding member of the new global alliance for plastic waste end
Total has become a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a coalition of global companies to advance solutions to help end plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean. They have committed over $1 billion with the goal of investing $1.5 billion over the next five years to help end plastic waste in the environment. Find out more about the alliance here.
Total in talks to sell North Sea oil, gas assets to private firms
Customer Spotlight
Tell us about your role at NHS Scotland
My role is to assist all NHS Boards throughout Scotland in both technical and managerial aspects of Energy Management.
What is your organisation’s mission?
Our mission is first and foremost to assist all NHS Boards in trying to help them achieve their objectives.
What would you say are the top 3 things that “employees would say they value most from working at the NHS”?
From a personal perspective, the top 3 things have to be improved patient experience, by providing the best possible care and medication that is available.
How many people/teams within your organisation are involved in Energy?
Within Health Facilities Scotland there are only 2.5 full time members of staff directly involved in Energy, with other senior staff also involved.
Is the company involved in any Energy Efficiency/Reduction schemes?
We are constantly involved in assisting NHS Boards on driving energy efficiency and savings initiatives, these could range from a simple and straight forward LED lighting scheme to a major refurbishment of a large acute hospital’s boiler house.
Is the company involved in any renewable energy initiatives?
Over the years there have been numerous renewable schemes introduced, e.g. There are 42 biomass boilers installed across the NHS estate in Scotland, ranging from 50kW to 3.2MW, a number of the new sites have Ground Source Heat Pumps, solar photovoltaic (PV) and one site has an operational Wind Turbine. In addition, we are also looking at the possibility of utilising emerging technologies such as Fuel Cells and Battery Storage solutions. Notwithstanding, the use of Biomethane could prove to be extremely useful in our constant strive to lower our Carbon footprint.
What is your organisation’s focus for the next 12 months?
From an energy perspective, to fully automate our energy, emissions and financial reporting of our utilities, as well as look at bringing water use into the mix.
What is the most common challenge you experience with energy suppliers?
My response does not in any way relate to TGP - some of our providers treat us for granted and occasionally need a wakeup call.
How is your relationship with TGP?
I firmly believe the relationship with TGP is a good one. If I was to ask for one thing it would be to help us more with Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) in securing gas in off-gas grid areas. One thing I wouldn’t change? Our Account Manager (Tom). He is quite simply the best in the business, I can’t leave without mentioning Nelly (Customer Service) in billing who has to be commended for the job that she does, with respect to the aforementioned I not only speak for myself, but all NHS Board staff involved in Energy throughout the country.
