As a now publically owned business, Fulcrum has a proven track record of focusing on customer service and was the first UK utility connections specialist to achieve the 'Putting the Customer First' standard.

Sales and Marketing Director Richard Atkinson commented: "This office move marks a significant step forward in the unveiling of 'new Fulcrum' as an improved and more customer focused business." 

But on Thursday May 15th, the technical and engineering skills that made Network Integrity Manager Paul the natural candidate for the Olympian task, was celebrated by industry peers. Against tough competition, he was named 2014 Engineer of the Year in front of over 600 senior gas industry leaders at the prestigious Gas Industry Awards held at the Park Lane Hilton.

Commenting on Paul's accolade, Fulcrum Operations Director Ian Foster said: "He's far too modest to ever acknowledge it himself, but Paul's title is well-deserved and we're delighted that the industry has joined us in recognising the difference a single individual can often make.

"With 35 years in the industry, he's chalked up some fantastic successes over his career but the Olympics, and in particular the gas feed to the flaming petals of the Olympic Cauldron that delighted spectators world wide was a crowning career achievement for Paul, a landmark project for Fulcrum and a unique showcase for the amazing talent and expertise that exists within the UK gas industry as a whole."

A submission detailing Paul's contribution was only able to be put forward for the Awards after a successful Fulcrum application to London Olympic authorities to enable some aspects of the management and nature of Games venue gas infrastructure, to finally be revealed.

Engineering challenges associated with the installation of over 4km of gas pipelines serving the Olympic Park, Athletes Village, Sponsor Hospitality Suites and global political leader dining areas, included three bridge crossings involving main railway lines and the Channel Tunnel rail link.

During the Games, Paul also led the teams providing 24-hour gas emergency cover which included working in close liaison with national security representatives protecting both gas infrastructure and all athletes, spectators and VIPs from security risks.

His recognition within the Gas Industry Awards was part of an annual spotlight on the outstanding achievements of individuals and businesses working in the gas industry.

A flagship event for the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) and Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM), the Gas Industry Awards are one of the largest and most prestigious recognition events for the sector.

The business-wide changes at Fulcrum are all geared towards providing an improved customer experience from better trained front end staff to a new network of Business Development Managers that will soon be rolled out across the country.

The three whisky companies shared the cost of the multi-million pound pipeline which has dramatically improved energy efficiency at the four Speyside distilleries - Cragganmore, The Glenlivet, Tormore and Tomintoul.

Representatives from the distilleries joined Fulcrum managers in toasting the completion of the pipeline, which is now delivering up to 4,000 cubic metres of gas every hour.

David MacInnes, Chivas Brothers Energy Manager, praised Fulcrum's approach to the project. Intensive effort enabled the project to complete significantly ahead of schedule and Fulcrum construction teams maintained a 100% safety record.

"When the distilleries were established, gas had yet to be used as an energy source and their location was selected simply for the ready availability of fresh spring water," he commented. "Until now, we've had to rely on fuel oil which had to be brought here by heavy tanker trucks and stored on site. With the new connection to the main gas network, we now have access to a far cleaner energy source and a much more reliable energy supply."

Diageo Supplier Performance Manager Chris Sharkey said: "We are delighted to have collaborated with Fulcrum and our industry colleagues on this project.

"It has brought real benefits to our businesses and to the local community by allowing us to stop using heavy fuel oil in the distilleries on the pipeline. That is better for the environment because it means lower carbon emissions and it also means fewer heavy fuel tankers on the roads, which is great news for everyone who lives locally."

Robert Fleming, Angus Dundee's Distilleries Director, said all three distillers had been impressed by Fulcrum's level of professionalism and commitment to the project.

"Every single member of the Fulcrum team, from project managers to the installation team on the ground, showed real tenacity in not only getting the job done but getting the job done right," he said.

"They set an ambitious timescale for completion and deserve every credit for surpassing it - their dedication has resulting in all three businesses, and the local environment, enjoying the benefits of a gas supply that much earlier."

Fulcrum's John McLuskey, who led the project, said the pipeline to remote Speyside had been one of the most ambitious gas infrastructure programmes undertaken in the UK in recent years.

"While the construction itself was challenging, everyone was working toward a common goal and a shared benefit - that made for a very positive relationship between all parties," said McLuskey.

Technical details:  

• On April 15th 2014 the team responsible for the gas pipeline installation were announced as finalists at the 2014 Utility Week Stars Awards under the category 'Team of the Year - Operational' in recognition of their delivery of this project.
• The gas pipeline was constructed from high-density polyethylene and steel pipework and consists of a main spur with three "legs" serving four distillery termination points.
• The pipeline follows the A95 and continues south through Marypark and across the Bridge of Avon to supply the Cragganmore and Tormore Distilleries. The pipeline follows the B9008 and B9136 to provide gas to The Glenlivet and Tomintoul Distilleries.
• For most of its route, the pipeline is buried under local roads.

"As sole contractor, McNicholas will become an intrinsic part of the Fulcrum Operations team, fully aligned to our aims, values and brand with some McNicholas staff working directly alongside our own expert teams," said Fulcrum Operations Director Ian Foster.

"With less complexity in the system and more efficient use of joint expertise, we expect to be able to deliver a much slicker design process for clients as well as establishing a clear market edge in terms of costs, speed, service and added value."

Fulcrum has utilised McNicholas since November 2011 on projects including Olympic Park and Glenkinchie Distillery. As sole contractor for utility works in England and Wales from 2nd June, the enhanced partnership with McNicholas now allows Fulcrum to guarantee consistent delivery in all regions as well as supporting innovation, new ways of working and flexibility in meeting customer needs.

"We are totally committed to Fulcrum's overarching aim of delivering a great service to end customers," said McNicholas Chief Executive, Barry McNicholas. "Becoming sole contractor significantly increases the value of our contract with Fulcrum as a partner of choice and this allows us to bring additional efficiencies to the project.  We look forward to building on the excellent working relationship we have established with Fulcrum over many years."

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This improved gas disconnection service more than halves the standard industry waiting times of 8 - 10 weeks to as little as 4 weeks (and sometimes even faster). 

Back to News

Transport for London are the first local authority in Britain to introduce new lane rental charges under Street Works regulations designed to reduce traffic congestion when roads need to be dug up. 

The new fee scheme covers over 200 miles, 57%, of "Red Route" London roads including major arterial routes into and out of central London. Charges will be based on a sliding scale depending on how busy the relevant road section is, the duration and what time of day works are carried out, how much of the carriageway is affected and if they affect key traffic "pinch points".

Commenting on the new regulations, Fulcrum's Associate Director of Operations, Ian Foster, said it was inevitable some London installation contracts would cost more.

"These new regulations will affect the cost of works carried out by all utility companies operating at key points on designated roads and streets in the Transport for London area. Clearly the intention is to persuade utility companies and others undertaking carriageway works to try to complete activity outside peak traffic times.

"As a responsible utilities infrastructure company, Fulcrum will do everything in its power to minimise additional costs to clients caused by the new regulations. Where possible, we will seek to work with clients to avoid routes and times attracting the lane rental levy - but in some cases, due to the nature, precise location and duration of the required works, additional customer costs may be unavoidable.

"As the exact amount of potential additional cost will vary significantly for individual contracts, depending on their scale, location and duration, we urge customers to speak to Fulcrum early in the planning and design stage.

"We can then confirm whether their proposal may be affected by lane rental, explain the extent of the implications and support customers by jointly exploring the works options and any available alternative routes which might reduce or eliminate the new Transport for London fees."

The Department of Transport is currently looking to gather evidence of the effectiveness of lane rental in reducing traffic disruption and is seeking to trial the scheme in at least two other, as yet unnamed, local authority areas.

The selected authorities will need to have exhausted other options, including using a permit scheme.

The Department of Transport says lane rental schemes will be evaluated annually and revenue raised used to reduce future road works disruption through new infrastructure, research or measures to improve works management.

Additional information and guidance:

• Customers seeking advice on potential lane charges affecting their development can read our specific FAQs, contact us on 0845 641 3010  or email us at enquiries@fulcrum.co.uk
• A map showing key routes affected is available for download here
• A copy of the Transport For London Lane Rental Scheme is available here
• A copy of the relevant Department for Transport press release is available here

The site, www.fulcrumutilityserviceslimited.co.uk, provides the investment community with dedicated content including current share price, historic share trends, Board profiles and financial performance reports and news updates.
The website shares the same styling as Fulcrum's retail website at www.fulcrum.co.uk but concentrates on key information for investors.

Fulcrum Utility Services, formerly Marwyn Capital 1 Limited, joined the Alternative Investment Market after a reverse takeover of Fulcrum which was previously part of National Grid. Fulcrum is now a leading independent utilities infrastructure organisation, providing technical engineering, design, project management, consultancy and audit services across gas and multi-utility connections.

Read the full East Lane case study here

"Fulcrum has come a long way in the two years since it severed ties with National Grid," said Fulcrum Sales and Marketing Director Richard Atkinson.

"As the UK's definitive exhibition for energy professionals, we will be using The Energy Event as a reminder that we are no longer simply a gas connections company and now offer a wide and varied range of truly customer-focused energy solutions that meet the needs of today's market in a flexible and cost effective way."

Fulcrum's stand at the exhibition, which runs over September 11-12, will include videos of recent connections along with interactive information tablets and company service literature.

"The key thing for us is the chance to talk with, and listen to, both existing customers and new contacts," said Richard. "Our business development team will be on hand for all those who want to discover the benefits that choosing Fulcrum now offers."

Additional information:

• See Fulcrum on Stand F40 in the Hall 7-8 area of the NEC on September 11th and 12th
• Entry to The Energy Event 2012 is free for visitors who pre-register at www.theenergyevent.com prior to arrival. Normal entrance fee is £30.

Under the safety standard, outlet gas pipework should be inspected to make certain it has not been compromised over time by, for example, corrosion, recently-added building extensions, building layout-changes, additional pipework or simple neglect. Fulcrum's pipeline check will help companies avoid any potential for sudden disruption of their business due to gas pipeline condition issues and provides an opportunity for pre-emptive  identification of anything that could lead to a more serious health and safety incident.

Fulcrum is inviting more than 400 customers who had gas connections undertaken in 2006-7 to take advantage of the free preventative maintenance check  - even if their outlet pipework was already in existence or newly-installed by other contractors at the time.

In an ongoing rolling programme, customers who had gas connections installed by Fulcrum in 2008 will receive a similar invitation in 2013 with invites to more recent clients thereafter.

The free scheme applies to all business and public sector properties  with significant gas energy consumption - typically leisure and retail facilities, manufacturers, public sector sites such as hospitals and colleges or any business/infrastructure that has large scale gas outlet pipework,

"This new service underlines our ongoing commitment to meeting customer needs and providing customers with added value - in this case, the peace of mind that they are operating a safe, well maintained business environment for their customers, visitors and staff or an expert view on the steps necessary to make it so," said Fulcrum's Associate Director of Operations, Ian Foster.

"The consequences of substandard outlet pipework can pose a significant risk to both the safety of people in and around the relevant pipework area and damage overall business continuity and reputation. Through our new free pipework check, we are now providing past customers across England, Scotland and Wales with cost-free access to experienced Gas Safe engineers who will conduct a thorough inspection and produce a report indicating if any remedial action is needed."

Fulcrum's track record in cost-efficient gas pipeline design, installation and connection is your guarantee of an effective solution to rising Heavy Fuel Oil costs.

Discover more about our Heavy Fuel Conversion service here
  

To contact us during this period please email us at enquiries@fulcrum.co.uk.

We apologise for any inconvience.
   

Fulcrum's stand at the exhibition, which runs over September 11-12, will include videos of recent connections along with interactive information tablets and company service literature.

Additional information:

• See Fulcrum on Stand F40 in the Hall 7-8 area of the NEC on September 11th and 12th
• Entry to The Energy Event 2012 is free for visitors who pre-register at www.theenergyevent.com prior to arrival. Normal entrance fee is £30.

The new installation will supply natural gas to an energy centre that includes combined heat and power units (CHP) and a central biomass heat generator, providing energy for the indoor pool and leisure facilities, 625 lodges, a luxury hotel, self-contained spa suites and retail outlets.  The gas supply will also support hotel laundry facilities and cooking in the many restaurants.

"This is a forest area so consideration of the landscape and protecting the environment during installation will be just as high on our priority list as a safe and efficient gas supply," said Fulcrum's Sales and Marketing Director, Richard Atkinson.

Fulcrum was selected for the six-figure pipeline design and installation contract by building services design company Cunnington Clark. Fulcrum is now working closely with civil and structural engineers Hannah Reed who have undertaken much of the infrastructure design for Center Parcs Woburn Forest.

"Protection of the environment has always been a fundamental guiding principle for Center Parcs when constructing a new site and Woburn Forest will be no exception. Center Parcs has agreed to a sustainability strategy with the local authority and as such Fulcrum will be providing us with a safe, natural gas connection to support Woburn Forest.", said Center Parcs Woburn Construction Director Don Camilleri.

The pipeline will consist of a 180-250mm diameter polyethylene main supplemented with 180mm diameter service pipework, over seven times the diameter of domestic gas pipes, with kiosk and meter. The 14 week installation is expected to commence before September and projected to complete late 2012.

The new works for Center Parcs Woburn Forest are taking place only 20 miles from another significant Fulcrum installation in Aylesbury where the company is providing gas pipeline design and gas infrastructure works for a new £150million "super dairy" for Arla Foods.

"While some aspects of Fulcrum service provision are included, Fulcrum TV is more about telling than selling," said Fulcrum Sales & Marketing Director Richard Atkinson. "We're providing Fulcrum TV as an added value service that provides the kind of factual information to allow our customers to make informed choices around utility connections and related services."

Over coming weeks new content will be added to Fulcrum TV and will feature information on safety-related  pipework inspection and maintenance requirements, a guidance on securing quick gas disconnections to protect development schedules and the advantages to industrial, commercial and public sector enterprises of switching from heavy fuel oil to gas.

Fulcrum now retains its listing alongside 300 other organisations that have undergone Putting The Customer First assessment since it was founded in 2004, including The Prince's Trust, Skipton Building Society and The London School of Economics.

"Fulcrum was the first utilities connection specialist to achieve the National Standard for Customer Service and we are delighted to have retained our listing," said Fulcrum Sales and Marketing Director Richard Atkinson. "But we're not complacent and we're now pushing for even higher performance levels in terms of customer satisfaction.

"Some of those changes, such as the ability to request a quote through our website and take advantage of multi-utility connection services, are already in place.  We expect customer satisfaction levels to rise higher still as efforts to reframe all our services around making life easier for clients slot into place over coming months."

Under the safety standard, gas pipework should be inspected to make certain it has not been compromised over time by, for example, corrosion, recently-added building extensions, building layout-changes, additional pipework or simple neglect. Fulcrum's pipeline check will help companies avoid any potential for sudden disruption of their business due to gas pipeline condition issues and provides an opportunity for pre-emptive identification of anything that could lead to a more serious health and safety incident.

Fulcrum has already invited more than 400 customers who had gas connections undertaken by  in 2006-7 to take advantage of the free preventative maintenance check - even if their outlet pipework was already in existence or newly-installed by other contractors at the time.

In an ongoing rolling programme, customers who had gas connections installed by Fulcrum in 2008 will receive a similar invitation in 2013 with invites to more recent clients thereafter.

Fulcrum is now extending its free customer scheme to all business and public sector properties with significant gas energy consumption - typically leisure and retail facilities, manufacturers, public sector sites such as hospitals and colleges or any business/infrastructure that has large scale gas outlet pipework.

"This new service underlines our ongoing commitment to gas safety both for our existing customers and for businesses generally where they are large scale commercial users of gas," said Ian Foster, Fulcrum's Associate Director of Operations.

"We are seeking to provide businesses and public sector organisations with either the peace of mind that they are operating a safe, well maintained business environment for their customers, visitors and staff or an expert view on the steps necessary to make it so."

"The consequences of substandard outlet pipework can pose a significant risk to both the safety of people in and around the relevant pipework area and damage overall business continuity and reputation. Through our new free pipework check, we are now providing cost-free access to experienced Gas Safe engineers who will conduct a thorough inspection and produce a report indicating if any remedial action is needed."

Fulcrum's move to support gas safety has been applauded by Gas Safe Register.

"We welcome Fulcrum's support for Gas Safety Week 2012. Organisations from across industry are using the Week as an opportunity to make their customers aware of the importance of gas safety and the steps they can take to keep themselves safe. Gas Safe Register is at the heart of the campaign but it is the support of industry which makes it a success." said Paul Johnston, chief executive of Gas Safe Register.

If your business wants to take advantage of Fulcrum's gas safety check, please call them on 0845 641 3010 or visit www.fulcrum.co.uk.

In addituion, Fulcrum will also be premiering a number of short Fulcrum TV 'talking heads' videos during the event.

"The key thing for us is the chance to talk with, and listen to, both existing customers and new contacts," said Richard Atkinson, Sales and Marketing Director. "Our business development team will be on hand for all those who want to discover the benefits that choosing Fulcrum now offers."

Additional information:

• See Fulcrum now on Stand F40 in the Hall 7-8 area of the NEC (September 11th and 12th)

The free inspection helps companies comply with the Institute of Gas Engineering Managers IGEM UP/2 (inspection & maintenance) standard that all downstream outlet pipework and ancillary equipment should be supported by a full maintenance plan, annual inspections and soundness testing at least once every five years.

Speaking at The Energy Event, the UK's premier energy industry exhibition taking place this week at Birmingham's NEC, Richard Atkinson, Fulcrum's Sales & Marketing Director, said: "Some may see the IGEM guidance as red tape but it underpins a common sense attitude to safety. We agree that some health and safety edicts deserve reappraisal, particularly those causing undue burden to small businesses, but others make a very definite contribution to business performance as well as protecting staff and visitors.

"For example, pipework that has degraded over time, been poorly maintained or compromised by later building work or refurbishment represents a significant commercial and operational risk as well as a danger to life and limb. As a safety-conscious company, we took a decision earlier this year to extend the free inspections we offer past Fulcrum customers to other large gas users - even if we did not do the original installation.

"As a responsible gas connection and disconnection business, we will continue to make it easier for companies to be safe and avoid the operational and financial fall-out of unplanned gas service disruption caused by poor pipe maintenance - worse, the potential for legal action against company directors in the event of  serious incident."

"Finding ways to cut energy costs is top of every Boardroom's agenda. With fuel oil price trends the way they are, the payback period can be astonishingly short," says John.

"If you are a fuel oil user, it's time to see just how much a switch to gas can benefit your bottom line."

Watch the video here.

"Good customer service is often about identifying and meeting customer needs and reminding customers who may not have taken action before that changed circumstances have created even greater benefits," said Fulcrum Sales Director Richard Atkinson.

"Most firms using Heavy Fuel Oil are located in rural areas meaning a gas connection entails investment in a new pipeline. If they found that investment level outweighed the benefit in the past, they could be in for a very pleasant surprise if they look again.

Richard explained: "Heavy Fuel Oil costs have soared in recent years. Price trends against gas now means businesses can enjoy bottom line payback on a new pipeline connection in as little as a matter of months - and potentially very significant ongoing energy bill savings in the years to come."

Fulcrum is providing active advice to business users of Heavy Fuel Oil who want to make the switch with the offer of a free feasibility and support that includes sales a new online video guide.

The move follows in the wake of a company commitment to provide free gas pipework "M.O.T" inspections to large business users of gas and recent confirmation by the independent Customer First organisation of Fulcrum's place among 300 UK companies certified as leading the way in customer service.

To find out more about National Customer Service Week, organised by the National Institute for Customer Service, visit www.instituteofcustomerservice.com.

Watch the video here.

"There is a gap there as far as utility connection suppliers in general are concerned and we intend to be the one to plug it," said Richard Atkinson, Fulcrum's Sales Director,

Atkinson will tell developers at this year's Home Builders Federation (HBF) National Utility Conference that Fulcrum is restructuring its backroom support services to make it easier for builders to avoid the kind of connection delays that can cause construction schedule setbacks and additional cost.

Fulcrum hopes its investment in customer service enhancements will help house builders in a fragile UK market that has halved in value from £19.8billion in 2007 to £10billion in 2012 due to the downturn. Fewer new homes are being built than at any time since the 1920s and successful mortgage applications for all homes are at half the level of 2006-7.

"In a challenging market house builders are surviving, and many thriving, by building smarter - and we want to help in that," said Atkinson. "They are driving out risk by focusing hard on the type, number and selling price of the new builds on offer and we are driving out risk of slippage in connection schedules, and the associated costs in delays on site for house builders and developers, by reorganising to better meet their build timing needs."

"We're also being proactive in supporting house builders commercially. For example by undertaking multi-utility connections - digging a single trench for gas pipelines and electricity cables, sharing the financial savings with the developer through more competitive pricing and cutting out the time and hassle of dealing with several utility suppliers."

"When every penny counts, this kind of approach can be vital to saving time on completion of the project as well as money on the connections themselves."

Atkinson said Fulcrum was making "strong progress" toward eradicating many of the problem areas highlighted in past surveys by the National Federation of House builders (NFB) on the issues faced by developers when requesting electricity, gas, water and telecoms connections from UK utility connection companies in general. The NFB conducted its most recent survey into service standards during 2011.

 "Many issues boiled down to ineffective communication lines between the utility company and the house builder and a lack of empathy for their commercial position," said Atkinson.

"Change to make life easier doesn't have to be radical, just effective. Here at Fulcrum we now provide a single point of contact for the developer. Someone who will keep them up to date and work with them should there need to be a change of plan."

Richard Atkinson will be presenting more details of Fulcrum's aims to put 'clear blue water' between its service levels and those of other utility connection suppliers at The Home Builders Federation's National Utility Conference at Wigan's DW Stadium on October 31st.
 

For more about the Home Builders Federation (HBF) National Utility Conference the conference, visit www.hbf.co.uk.

The research shows the cost of heavy fuel oil has risen by 254% over the past decade compared to 94% for natural gas and that gas powered heating and production is also significantly less damaging to the environment.

"Most businesses using heavy fuel oil for production and heating don't do so out of choice but because they are located in rural areas away from mains gas," said Fulcrum sales and marketing director Richard Atkinson.

"This is a proactive attempt to help those businesses control their energy costs by giving them the facts on the negative financial effect of using heavy fuel oil and showing just how cost effective a switch to natural gas can be.

"Investment in a pipeline extension may sound daunting but our research shows that with Heavy Fuel Oil prices as they are, many organisations can recoup the cost of switching to gas in as little as a few months - with every penny saved after that going straight to the bottom line."

• Download your  copy of "The Dash for Gas - Why UK business consumers of heavy fuel oil need to consider converting to natural gas" 

"We are delighted that Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Angus Dundee have chosen to make this investment at a time when Scotch whisky exports are growing substantially," said Richard Atkinson, Fulcrum's Sales and Marketing Director. "The pipeline will dramatically improve the distilleries' energy infrastructure, providing scope for them to scale-up production and guarantee product continuity and will provide a significant reduction to carbon footprints at each distillery.

"This will be one of the most ambitious gas infrastructure projects in the UK for a number of years. Oil prices have been volatile for some time and it is increasingly economical for companies outside the main gas network to make this kind of investment."

In a joint comment the three distillery companies said: "These distilleries were founded before the advent of gas as an energy source and their distant locations were often chosen for a bounteous supply of fresh spring water above all else. It is a very positive move to bring them online with the main gas network which will bring environmental and economic benefits to all distillers concerned."

It is anticipated that Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Angus Dundee will recoup their initial investment within a few years based on current energy prices. The new pipeline will also offer social and environmental benefits to the areas around the distilleries - reducing dependence on heavy-fuel tankers, opening up access to cleaner energy supply and removing the risks associated with storing large quantities of oil.

Fulcrum is in discussions with several other Scotch whisky distillers interested in funding new gas connection pipelines, either as part of a consortium or individually.

Technical details

• The pipe will be constructed from high density polyethylene and steel pipework and will consist of a main spur with three "legs" serving four distillery termination points.
• The pipeline will follow the route of the A95 and continue south through Marypark and cross the Bridge of Avon to supply the Cragganmore and Tormore Distilleries. The pipeline will also "tee off" at Delnashaugh and follow the B9008 and B9136 to provide gas to The Glenlivet and Tomintoul Distilleries.
  For most of its route, it will be buried under local roads.
• It will transfer natural gas to Speyside from the existing gas network and will be designed to cope with expected demand of well over 4,000 cubic metres per hour.
• Subject to relevant route proposals and Roads Authorities permissions, Fulcrum will begin undertaking the pipe installation in autumn this year.

Learn more about Heavy Fuel Conversion here.

"Like general consumers, businesses using fuel oil for heating have been particularly hard hit by upward price trends in recent years," said Fulcrum's sales director Richard Atkinson. "Fuel oil costs have increased by 254% over the past decade - more than double the price increase of gas over the same period - making investment in company connection to mains gas very attractive.

Atkinson cited Fulcrum's recent joint pipeline commission from whisky distiller trio Diageo, Chivas and Angus Dundee to create a new 16-mile link from the main gas network to production centres in rural Speyside, Scotland. 

"While the investment runs to several millions, the payback is significant for the businesses involved both in terms of the short time required to see a return on investment and the on-going savings thereafter. We expect at least one of the companies to save £50,000 a week in energy costs as a direct result of being able to switch from fuel oil to gas. And due to the cleaner nature of gas, we estimate each company will also reduce their carbon footprints by more than a quarter."

• To find out more about Fulcrum assistance in business conversion from heavy fuel oil to gas, contact Fulcrum on 0845 641 3010 
• To find out more about The Big Energy Saving Week, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
   or www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Watch the video here.

In the new online video, now available on Fulcrum TV and via YouTube and Vimeo, Fulcrum product development manager Craig McGlone explains the advantages of rapid gas disconnections to businesses involved in site demolition, redevelopment or regeneration works.

"In the past, many customers traditionally turned to the large gas networks to meet their gas disconnection needs," said Craig. "The problem is that before they will actually start work, networks wait until they've amassed a sizeable group of disconnection jobs in a specific locality.

 "A typical client might be left waiting two months for a site disconnection - causing development delays, potential financial penalties and a variety of other issues when building cannot be resumed until a disconnection is completed.

"Now there's a reliable Fulcrum alternative," explains Craig.  "We know that time is money so we've listened to customers and introduced the kind of rapid response disconnection service with the flexibility that ensures build programmes are no longer disrupted by long lead times.

"Safety and customer convenience remain paramount but, using Fulcrum, tight work schedules can now be protected.".

Watch the video here.

Visit the blog

On announcing the prize draw, Fulcrum Customer Services Manager Jaime Hardy said, "We always appreciate it when customers take the time to let us know about their experience when working with us.

Their feedback is invaluable in shaping our services and building on our commitment to the customer experience." 

Whisky companies Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Angus Dundee came together to commission Fulcrum to install the new pipeline which is set to cut their future energy bills by around 30 per cent. The distilleries' conversion from fuel oil to gas as heat source during whisky production will also reduce carbon emissions by up to a third.

Work on the first phase of the underground installation is now well underway with the Fulcrum pipeline following the line of local roads for the majority of its route.

Construction is taking place in a succession of 500 metre stretches using specialist trench-digging machinery.

Visit the Fulcrum blog site to learn more.

Read the full Olympic case study here 

Four-week gas disconnections are now the first priority service to feature on a new dedicated Fast Track web page within Fulcrum's www.fulcrum.co.uk website. Fast Track gas meter installation and Fast Track gas connections will be launched in the new financial year.

The moves are Fulcrum's response to customer surveys and recent research by the National Federation of Housebuilders, which showed developers remain frustrated by the speed of response and lack of flexibility of many utility connection providers.

"Our new Fast Track offer shows Fulcrum will always be there when you need us most," said Fulcrum sales and marketing director Richard Atkinson. "We are the only independent utility connection company operating throughout mainland Britain and as Fast Track Services demonstrate, we're an agile and innovative alternative to the main gas networks whatever your site schedule.

"These new premium services are part of our continuing commitment to setting an industry lead in customer service and helping developers plan with confidence"

Commenting on calls for greater flexibility across the wider utility infrastructure industry, Atkinson said: "For too long the utility industry has been about 'this is what you can have - take it or leave it'. Our new Fast Track Services have instead been developed as a result of listening to customers and asking 'what do you need'."

The new priority services are designed to help developers and site managers to stick to demanding schedules, steer clear of costly schedule disruption or avoid potential financial penalties for overruns.

"As a priority service, Fast Track may cost a little more than our standard gas disconnections but it's a small investment when you can have everything ready in weeks rather than months," said Atkinson.

While Fulcrum is cutting waiting times for gas disconnection, there is no shortcut on safety and professionalism.  "Fulcrum Fast Track disconnections are still undertaken by GIRS-accredited and Gas Safe engineers. Developers always have the peace of mind that when using Fulcrum, they are tapping into our long heritage of unrivalled gas expertise," said Atkinson.

Learn more about Fast Track Services

Read the full St Mark's Church case study here

Fulcrum scored 99.2 per cent during evaluation of the quality element of its management system and 100 per cent quality adherence during an on-the-spot visit to a current installation site.

Quality and health and safety scores both increased during the annual appraisal which took place during December 2012. Fulcrum also continued its established  lead on the average scores of all suppliers for quality, health and safety and environmental impact control.

• Fulcrum is a registered supplier with UVDB Verify through Achilles
• Achilles operates the Utilities Vendor Database (UVDB) Supplier Management Service on behalf of all the major UK utility organisations. Established in 1996 UVDB is now recognised as the standard approach to supplier pre-qualification within the UK Utilities Sector
• Learn more about UVDB here.

The Fruit Bat Forest, the largest free-flying bat cave in Europe, is a specially controlled environment where temperature, humidity and lighting are critical to the health and well-being of its inhabitants.

Home to a population of over 400 bats, the cave holds three species including Livingstone's fruit bat - one of the largest types of bat in the world with a wingspan of up to 1.3m.

Fulcrum expects to complete the new gas connection to the cave's heating system by the end of March 2013.

Fulcrum announces Mr Robert Mitchell of OP Construction as the winner of the second quarterly customer satisfaction responder prize draw. Mr Mitchell was drawn from all customer satisfaction surveys completed between November 1st 2012 and January 31st 2013 and is now the owner of a new iPad.

On news of the draw, Fulcrum Customer Contact Manager Vicky Cairns said, "We appreciate our customer's taking the time to give us their invaluable feedback. It continues to shape our services and support improvements in customer experience".

Fulcrum is one of the first businesses to be granted a licence agreement enabling it to promote its contribution to the Olympics under the London 2012 Supplier Recognition Scheme announced in January by Lord Sebastian Coe and Culture Secretary Maria Miller.

The licence allows Fulcrum to promote its Olympics work at UK trade shows, apply for industry awards for London 2012 work and use the involvement in pitches and tender documentation when competing for contracts.

The centrepiece of Fulcrum's contribution was the construction of the gas pipework fuelling the moving petals of flame which came together to form the innovative Olympic Cauldron - seen by many as the ultimate emblem of the London 2012 Games.

"Our involvement in the provision of utility infrastructure to the main stadium and park was extensive but hidden under Olympic publicity and promotion rules until now." said sales and marketing director Richard Atkinson. "Many people at Fulcrum contributed many hours of expertise over many years to make our contribution a success and we are immensely proud of the role we played in making London 2012 the best Olympics to date."

Fulcrum Infrastructure Services installed a pipe network feeding the cauldron and able to deliver 1,000 cubic metres of gas an hour at a minimum pressure of 1.99 Bar.

Fulcrum provided utility infrastructure design, planning, engineering, construction and project management services over a three year period leading up to the Games as well as providing 24-hour gas safety and security cover for the duration of the event.

Fulcrum Pipelines Limited won a competitive Olympic Delivery Authority tender to own and operate all gas pipework, even that installed by other utility infrastructure providers, across the Olympic Park, the Athletes' Village and the nearby Westfield Shopping Centre as well as that serving two main energy centres within the Olympic Park.

Commercial developers are the most likely to appreciate the accountability, control and coordination advantages associated with using one supplier to provide all utility connection services.

Meanwhile, a reduction in the bother, stress and time of dealing with multiple suppliers was the most popular reason why intermediaries such as energy brokers, energy consultants and mechanical and electrical consultants, choose a multi-utility partner.

"The results confirm the value of Fulcrum's multi-utility offer and our move from a gas connections company to utility connections specialists encompassing the full range of utility connection infrastructure," said Fulcrum's Multi-Utility Manager Dean Pattison.

"Whatever part of the development market they are in, more and more of our customers are asking for multi-utility or dual fuel installations because, as our survey shows, they recognise the benefits. It's a rare location that wants a new gas connection but doesn't have a water, electricity or telecoms need - and time is money for everyone."

The multi-utility findings form part of wider Fulcrum research into the needs of UK utility connection customers.  The survey, which took place in December 2012, targeted more than 7,000 customers and findings are being used to further refine Fulcrum's product portfolio and marketing and customer service approach.

"We've made it clear we aim to be the utility connection sector's number one choice for customer service and nowhere is that more important than in multi-utility connections where our hallmarks of a dedicated point of contact and consistent operational on-site support  are so important to successful delivery," said Fulcrum Sales and Marketing Director Richard Atkinson.

The first stage of the redeveloped New Street concourse will be fully open to the public from the end of April 2013. Fulcrum will support Network Rail's gas infrastructure needs throughout the second phase of development until completion of the transport hub project in 2015.

Fulcrum's commissions, worth over £400,000, also includes the provision of gas infrastructure serving the Ladywood House office block over the station entrance and a new John Lewis store - the largest outside London - which will form part of the redevelopment of the  Pallasades Shopping Centre. The Pallasades Shopping Centre will be renamed Grand Central Birmingham and is due to open its doors to shoppers in autumn 2014.

Paul Heir, Utilities Project Manager for principal contractor MaceGroup commented: "We went out and market tested utility connection providers early in the project and at that time found Fulcrum was the most competitive. We've since contracted Fulcrum for all gas connections on the site including the main boiler serving the station, the CHP gas supply and those for the Pallasades and John Lewis."

The 'new' New Street station, enclosed by a giant light-filled atrium, will serve over 140,000 passengers a day and features a brand new station entrance and exterior.

Mr Stuart Beasley, Business Sales Manager at npower said: "We are pleased to have selected Fulcrum to provide us with connections services. It's important that we're able to provide a smooth and reliable connections service to our business customers, and believe Fulcrum will deliver the best solutions for our customers' requirements. We look forward to a successful partnership with Fulcrum in the future."

Under the new Fulcrum Plus scheme, developers commissioning utility connection works in excess of £25,000 and having a good credit rating will benefit from access to staged payment terms up to and including a zero upfront payment requirement.

 Registration for Fulcrum Plus is free and the package marks the latest in a series of measures by Fulcrum to introduce improved "John Lewis-style" customer service into the utility connection and utility infrastructure installation market. Other moves include:

• The integration of technical support into Fulcrum's customer contact centre
• The implementation of an online quick quotation request service
• The launch of a post-installation customer satisfaction tracking survey
• A fast track gas disconnection service within four weeks - half the average industry waiting time

Richard Atkinson, Sales and Marketing Director at Fulcrum commented:
"Fulcrum Plus represents yet another major investment in making life easier for our customers.  It underlines not only our service ethic but also our commitment to delivering utility connections in ways that optimise time and costs for the client while always maintaining quality and safety.

 "Our research confirmed the views of many developers that the timescales, payment terms and organisational complexity of utility connections are the most common cause of construction project delays and frustration. The launch of Fulcrum Plus shows we've listened - and we've acted." 

 "The launch of Fulcrum Plus marks the first tangible response by anyone in the connections industry to the need to keep pace with the advances in construction timescales and efficiencies generally achieved across the construction sector in recent years," said Richard Atkinson.

 "Some of the concerns raised by developers are not new - they have much in common with the results of surveys by the National Federation of Builders in 2006, 2008 and 2011. The difference here is that we as provider have taken these latest results to heart and are the first to shape our business around them. "
 

Collecting the award, Fulcrum Health, Safety & Environmental Support Manager Yohan De Silva commented: "We are very pleased that our commitment to safety has been formally recognised in this way by Britain's leading safety charity.

"Our track record and approach to maintaining and promoting the highest standards on every site we work on is well-recognised and immensely valued by clients, contractors and staff."

Dating back 57 years, the RoSPA Awards scheme is the largest and longest-running programme of its kind in the UK. It recognises commitment to accident and ill health prevention.

The scheme not only looks at accident records, but also entrants' overarching health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

David Rawlins, RoSPA's awards manager, said:

"RoSPA firmly believes that organisations that demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement in accident and ill health prevention deserve recognition. Fulcrum has shown that it is committed to striving for such continuous improvement and we are delighted to honour it through the presentation of an award."

See www.rospa.com/awards/ for more information about the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards.

Mr Powell was drawn from all customer satisfaction surveys completed between February 1st and April 30th 2013 and wins a new iPad.

Richard Atkinson, Fulcrum Sales and Marketing Director, commented: "Fulcrum Plus' no automatic upfront payment approach represents a major departure from traditional terms and conditions in the sector. After registering for free via our website, Fulcrum Plus clients are able to pay for utility connections on completion or via phased invoicing at key milestones."

Under Fulcrum Plus, developers commissioning utility connection works in excess of £25,000 benefit from access to staged payment terms up to and including a zero upfront payment requirement subject to relevant credit checks.

"The launch of Fulcrum Plus marks the first tangible response by anyone in the connections industry to the need to keep pace with the advances in construction timescales and efficiencies generally achieved across the construction sector in recent years," added Richard Atkinson.

Richard Atkinson, Sales and Marketing Director at Fulcrum commented: "Recent independent research commissioned by Fulcrum showed a named
contact while a job is live was a critical purchase factor for 90 per cent of
residential developers and 96 per cent of commercial developers.

"As a result, we're now guaranteeing a consistent contact point from the beginning to the end of a job for all developers opting for free registration as a Fulcrum Plus client. Registered developers will get regular project progress updates from their Fulcrum contact to ensure the project is delivered on time and on budget."

Closer job support for developers is one of a range of service upgrades in the Fulcrum Plus package driven by solid customer research, and established to introduce improved "John Lewis-style" customer service into the utility connection installation market. 

Fulcrum Plus marks the latest in a series of measures by Fulcrum to introduce improved levels of customer service in to the utility connections market. Other moves include:

• The integration of technical support into
  Fulcrum's customer contact centre
• The implementation of an online quick quotation
  request service
• The launch of a post-installation customer
  satisfaction tracking survey
• A fast track gas disconnection service within
  four weeks - half the average industry waiting time

Richard Atkinson added: "Fulcrum Plus represents yet another major investment in making life easier for our customers.  It underlines not only our service ethic but also our commitment to delivering utility connections in ways that optimise time and costs for the client while always maintaining quality and safety."

"We've listened, we've acted and Fulcrum is committed to matching rival prices for all Fulcrum Plus clients wherever possible."

The new Price Match Promise is available to all customers who opt to register free for the new Fulcrum Plus service at www.fulcrumplus.co.uk. Details of relevant terms and conditions are also available on the Fulcrum Plus website.

Registration for Fulcrum Plus is free and the package marks the latest in a series of measures by Fulcrum to introduce improved "John Lewis-style" customer service into the utility connection and utility infrastructure installation market.

Other moves include:

• The integration of technical support into Fulcrum's customer contact centre
• The implementation of an online quick quotation request service
• The launch of a post-installation customer satisfaction tracking survey
• A fast track gas disconnection service within four weeks - half the average industry waiting time

Richard Atkinson concluded:  "Fulcrum Plus represents yet another major investment in making life easier for our customers.  It underlines not only our service ethic but also our commitment to delivering utility connections in ways that optimise time and costs for the client while always maintaining quality and safety."

Fulcrum's research showed that at some developer businesses, the people responsible for commissioning utility connections sometimes had only a limited understanding of the processes and technical aspects associated with utility infrastructure procurement.

A primary reason for outsourcing utility connections was to tap into more informed external expertise, secure the best prices and save time, rather than because they lacked internal resource.

The bureaucracy of utility installation (regulatory constraints, legal agreements, utility network liaison etc.) was the second greatest utility connections issue shared by developers in the Fulcrum survey. The ready availability of expert advice on timescales and cost efficiency was also identified as a key need for developers. Improved supplier-client communication and a dedicated point of contact was the number one area identified for improvement, and this has also been integrated into new Fulcrum Plus service levels.

Richard Atkinson added: "Some of the concerns raised by developers during our research are not new - they have much in common with the results of surveys by the National Federation of Builders in 2006, 2008 and 2011. The difference here is that we as provider have taken these latest results to heart and are the first to shape our business around them.

"Fulcrum Plus represents yet another major investment in making life easier for our customers.  It underlines not only our service ethic but also our commitment to delivering utility connections in ways that optimise time and costs for the client while always maintaining quality and safety."

Fulcrum Pipelines Limited are to adopt the network after a new 300-metre medium pressure pipeline, governor, base kiosk and meter have been installed by sister business Fulcrum Infrastructure Services.

"Fulcrum was able to provide a much more cost effective quote than if the pipework had been adopted by one of the big main gas network owners," said Eddie Farenden of Denizen Contracts Ltd, who are managing development delivery on behalf of Hampshire CC.

Located on the outskirts of Southampton, the Ageas Bowl, formerly known as the Rose Bowl, is hosting two NatWest Series One Day Internationals in 2013 with England playing both Australia and New Zealand. It is currently in the process of becoming Britain's first Model Test ground and has been home turf to a range of cricketing legends including Aussie spin bowler Shane Warne.

The commission follows Fulcrum's successful conversion of the Zoo's famous walk-through bat cave, home to a population of over 400 bats, from heavy fuel oil to cleaner natural gas earlier this year.

Ray Morrison, Chester Zoo's facilities and environment manager, said: "Fulcrum has proved an excellent service partner in assisting us with the previous development of our gas infrastructure - reducing dependence on heating oil and significantly reducing carbon emissions. We are delighted to again have them on board with our Islands project."

Fulcrum expects to commence works in September 2013. Islands is set to open to the public in 2015.

Mr Fairclough was drawn from all customer satisfaction surveys completed between May 1st and July 31st 2013 and wins a new iPad.

The gas pipeline is part of a wider programme of energy saving works being delivered to the properties by Willmott Dixon Energy Services. On completion of the installation, residents of the village - a stone's throw from Snowdon - will switch from their existing fuel sources that include coal and oil to more energy efficient and cost effective natural gas supplies.

The project commenced on July 1st 2013 and will see Fulcrum overcome numerous engineering complexities, including three bridge crossings, before its expected completion in November 2013.

The handpicked project team, led by Fulcrum Field Engineer and Field Operations Manager John McLuskey, included some of Fulcrum's most experienced design, engineering, project management and commercial professionals. Other members include design lead Jonathan Windle, commercial lead Keith Stout, project planner Martin Gregory, contractor project manager Gordon Stevenson, HS&E Support Manager Grant Watson and Paul Leighton, Network Integrity Manager for Fulcrum Pipelines.

Their efforts have been rewarded with a place in the 2014 Utility Week Stars Awards under the 'Team of the Year - Operational' category. Other teams shortlisted for the category include H5O on behalf of South West Water, MMB and Yorkshire Water and UK Power Networks

The winning team will be announced on June 13th at a special Awards presentation event being hosted by Utility Week at Lancashire County Cricket Club.

The Stars Awards have been introduced by Utility Week as sister accolades to the prestigious Utility Week Achievement Awards in which Fulcrum was successful last year - lifting a Capital Project Management Award for the business' gas infrastructure works at the London 2012 Olympic Stadium and Athletes' Village.

As part of Fulcrum’s growth strategy, the company is also expanding its asset management portfolio.  This includes increasing agreements to adopt external gas assets from utility infrastructure providers, which do not have an independent gas transportation licence that is required to own gas pipelines. 

Fulcrum plans to invest £2.8m in acquiring infrastructure assets, which will generate income from the transportation of gas.  This will build upon the 300km of gas pipeline with 13,000 supply points the company currently owns and manages.

In addition, plans are on track to obtain the independent distribution network operator (IDNO) licence by the end of the calendar year to enable ownership of electrical assets.

The company has also made positive progress with its gas meter asset operation, having achieved 2,000 meter adoptions in the first six months following the company achieving the Full Meter Asset Management Accreditation.  

As a Meter Asset Manager (MAM), Fulcrum is responsible for elements including the design, installation, maintenance and removal of the meters to ensure they perform in accordance with industry standards. As the asset manager, Fulcrum receives a rental income for each meter from the energy supplier.

As a result of becoming a MAM, Fulcrum is one of only small number of companies that can own both pipelines and meters, which enables the business to provide a more comprehensive asset rental service to the gas industry. 

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “We have achieved our aim of growing the sales order book - 2016/17 has seen continued expansion of both our infrastructure services and asset ownership businesses.

“The business has an established and growing market leading position. We will continue to focus on improving customer service, building our order book and using the cash generated to increase the asset base and the recurring transportation income, all whilst maintaining and improving operational disciplines. We remain confident in our outlook for the business."

Fulcrum’s engineers overcame the challenges of passing the pipeline through multiple terrains, including under bridges, within highway verges and along waterways on the route between the gas network connection in Dufftown and the distillery on the slopes of Ben Rinnes.

The new pipeline is part of the distillery’s strategy to adopt a reduced carbon energy supply. It will replace the need to rely on fuel oil delivered by large road tankers and further reduce its carbon footprint.

It follows the installation of a 13-kilometre pipeline to link Scotland’s main gas network to Chivas Brothers’ Dalmunach distillery, as well as the Tamdhu, Cardhu and Knockando distilleries in Speyside in 2016, which was also completed a month ahead of schedule. Previously, in 2014, Fulcrum also delivered a 16-mile pipeline connecting four other distilleries. 

Martin Harrison, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “The successful completion of the gas pipeline ahead of schedule is testament to the ingenuity and expertise of our team in the delivery of complex infrastructure projects.  It also builds on the experience we have developed working with the Scotch whisky industry to support its ambitions to embrace more sustainable operations through the use of gas.”

Gordon Buist, Director of Production at Chivas Brothers, added: “This project marks another milestone in our commitment to using less carbon intensive energy sources and reducing our carbon footprint. We continually strive for excellence on this front, and are therefore delighted to see this latest project delivered ahead of schedule.”

Director of Production at Chivas Brothers Gordon Buist (left) and Fulcrum’s Regional Sales Manager Stevie McGill (right) following completion of the new gas pipeline.

Open to businesses of all sizes from multiple sectors, the awards, which are in their 61^st year, recognise overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “Achieving a gold standard from RoSPA for the 14^th year running is testament to our commitment to operational health and safety and the exceptional work of our team. 

“The safety of our operations, our people and the public is our absolute priority.  Through continual investment in our procedures and staff training we are able to maintain and deliver best practice, which has again been recognised by these prestigious awards.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of awards and events, said: “The RoSPA Awards are the most prestigious in the world of occupational health and safety, and held in high regard around the world, as winning one demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to maintaining an excellent health and safety record. Achieving the standard required is no mean feat.  This is a special year in the history of RoSPA, and we congratulate all of our winners in this, our centenary year”.

The deal is the latest development in Fulcrum’s electrical market growth. It follows on from Fulcrum securing its Independent Distribution Network Operator (iDNO) licence, which it achieved at the end of 2017, and enables the company to adopt, own and operate electrical assets. 

The Dunamis Group will become part of an enlarged Fulcrum Group and continue to trade under its existing brands.

With its headquarters in Bury St Edmunds, the Dunamis Group was founded in 2012 by Chairman Wayne Hayes and has quickly become one of the UK’s leading independent electrical connections providers.

Mr Hayes will join the board of Fulcrum as a Non-Executive Director alongside Fulcrum’s Chief Financial Officer, Hazel Griffiths, who has become an Executive Director. 

Employing 48 people, the Dunamis Group has four divisions, which provide services including the design, installation and project management of renewable energy-related connections in areas such as battery storage facilities and short-term operating reserves.

Through Maintech Power Services Ltd, it builds, project manages and maintains private electricity networks, including the undertaking of any remedial works.  The business provides operational and maintenance services to approximately 200 sites across the UK.

Martin Harrison, Fulcrum’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This acquisition meets key strategic goals for Fulcrum; accelerating our future growth through the cross-selling of gas and electrical connection services, increasing electrical asset adoption opportunities and significantly expanding and extending our direct delivery capability within the electrical infrastructure market. This will reinforce our trusted ‘right first time’ service built on technical expertise.

“Under Wayne’s leadership, Dunamis has become an established and respected business within the electrical infrastructure market. Together, with the combined expertise of the enlarged Group, we have a real opportunity to rapidly develop our position within the utility services market.

“I am particularly pleased that Wayne and the senior management will become shareholders in the enlarged group and look forward to welcoming Wayne to our Board.”

Wayne Hayes, founder of the Dunamis Group, said: “This transaction marks an exciting milestone in the development of Dunamis and we are delighted to be entering the next stage of our growth strategy under Fulcrum’s ownership.

“I believe that the enlarged group will offer a highly-attractive proposition to the utility services market focused on outstanding technical expertise and project delivery. Along with my fellow directors, I am delighted in becoming a shareholder in Fulcrum, as well as joining the board of Fulcrum as a non-executive director.”

Fulcrum - Notice of application to become Independent Distribution Network Operator

Fulcrum had previously subcontracted specialist elements of its projects to Staffordshire-based CDS and this acquisition enhances the company’s capabilities and management of these complementary services.

This is the second acquisition made by Fulcrum in recent months following the purchase of the Dunamis Group, an electrical infrastructure services company, which created one of the UK's leading gas and electrical infrastructure services groups.  The integration of Dunamis is progressing well with management focusing on cross selling opportunities within the enlarged group.

Further progress is being made in the electricity market as Fulcrum’s iDNO electrical asset licence is now fully-operational and early enquiry levels from Independent Connection Providers (ICPs) for Fulcrum to adopt their electricity assets are encouraging.

Its wider asset adoption strategy has also continued, with Fulcrum growing its gas asset estate by adopting the assets that the company and other Utility Infrastructure Providers (UIPs) construct.

There has been sustained growth in the gas assets secured from UIPs, with the committed external capital spend increasing from £2.8m as at 31 March 2017 to £9.5m as at 28 February 2018.

Fulcrum has also reported strong growth in its forward orders.  As of 28 February 2018, the combined order book had increased by £8m to £38.3m, up from £30.3m at 31 March 2017.

Martin Harrison, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, stated: "The successful execution of the Company's strategy continues to place Fulcrum in a strong financial and operational position. The recent acquisition of Dunamis and CDS announced today has enhanced our service offering and in-house capabilities, establishing and growing our market leading position in both infrastructure delivery and utility asset ownership. We remain confident in our outlook for the business”.

Fulcrum will publish its preliminary results on 5 June 2018.

In addition to overcoming regularly adverse weather conditions, Fulcrum engineers also had to overcome the technical challenge of running the pipeline across seven bridge crossings.  Each bridge raised individual challenges with the crossing at Dailuaine being the most complex to deliver.  Engineers employed an innovative sleeve solution in the bridge arches to complete the pipeline crossing.

Awarded by a partnership of three whisky companies that have shared the cost of the pipeline, Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Ian MacLeod Distillers, the connection to the gas network will also help reduce the distilleries’ carbon footprints by cutting their reliance on fuel oil and ending the need for its delivery by road tankers during the summer months.

This new infrastructure will also benefit the local community with residential properties now able to access a gas supply for the first time. Fulcrum has worked closely with the local community, holding regular meetings to provide project updates and information on how householders can access the gas supply. As a result Fulcrum has received numerous enquiries from residents looking to establish a domestic gas connection from the new pipeline.

This is the second significant utility infrastructure project in Speyside delivered by Fulcrum.  In 2014 it completed a 16-mile pipeline connecting four other distilleries.  The delivery of both these Speyside connections have been supported by the work of a government-initiated gas taskforce, which have come together to address the region and its industry’s power infrastructure requirements.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “The early completion of this project is testament to the tenacity and technical expertise of our engineers.  This is one of the most technically-complex gas infrastructure projects delivered in the UK for some time, which makes it very significant to the expansion of the country’s gas network.   It proves our ability to overcome a variety of challenges to support the growth of the network in rural or urban environments.”

Keith Miller, Diageo Distilling and Maturation Director, said: “We are delighted to have been able to partner with our Scotch Whisky industry colleagues to invest in this gas pipeline. Scotch Whisky distilling is a crucial sector for the Speyside economy and this is a significant investment in the infrastructure which underpins our business and an investment in the sustainability of our industry.”

Mike Younger, Finance Director for Ian MacLeod Distillers, said: “We are delighted that seasonal gas will be available from the original target date of 1 April 2016, and hope that a year round supply can be made available in the very near future. Thank you to all of the many parties involved for their friendly co-operation which brought this project to a successful conclusion”

Gordon Buist, Production Director for Chivas Brothers, said: “This is the second gas pipeline project delivered by Fulcrum, which Chivas Brothers has been part of and we look forward to the benefits it will bring our operations."

(l to r) Louise McCaughey (Diageo), Stevie McGill (Fulcrum), Martin Donnachie (Fulcrum) and David MacInnes (Chivas Brothers) at Dalmunach Distillery, which is benefiting from the new £4m gas pipeline delivered by Fulcrum

Traditionally, Fulcrum designs and installs new gas and utility infrastructure to domestic properties and business premises to receive gas from the UK Gas network. Fulcrum has delivered a series of high profile projects including the gas infrastructure serving the Olympic Park, Athletes Village and the Olympic Cauldron at London 2012. The company also holds a significant national contract to provide connections to properties for British Gas, which was recently extended until 2018.   

The new service sees Fulcrum’s installation process reversed to enable energy produced by biogas generators to be fed into the UK network via the installation of new gas infrastructure.

The introduction of this new service is part of Fulcrum’s strategy to operate across a range of utility sectors providing technical engineering, design, project management and consultancy services.  It has established a strong track record in the utilities industry and includes British Gas among its high profile customers. 

The UK Biogas industry is experiencing considerable growth and has expanded seven-fold since 2010 according the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA).  With around 400 operational plants across the UK, the organisation also suggests there is scope for more than a thousand.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “Biogas is becoming an important part of the UK’s energy mix and there is real potential for it to take an even greater role in the future.  Fulcrum is perfectly placed to support the growth of the industry by implementing our extensive gas infrastructure experience to the sector assisting existing operators and new market entrants with the construction and commissioning of new plant infrastructure.”

He added: “Our track record in the gas industry, together with our excellent working relationship with the Gas Networks, will be of real benefit to the sector and support its ambitions to increase its contribution to the UK’s energy requirements.”

Fulcrum also achieved record EBITDA of £7.3m, up from £5.3m in 2016, and a significant growth in its order book, up 39 percent since March 2016 to £30.3 million.  

An array of new gas, electricity, multi-utility and housing sector contracts enabled the Company to achieve its organic growth.  Among them was a £4.2m project to install a new gas pipeline to a food manufacturing plant in the South West, a £1.1m gas pipeline in the Scottish Highlands and two housing development multi-utility projects worth a combined £0.3m.

Reflecting the Board’s ongoing confidence in the ability to generate cash income and future prospects, Fulcrum  has recommended a final dividend for the 2017 financial year of 1.3p per share, making the total dividend 1.9p for 2017 compared to 0.9p in the previous year.

Further growth is being achieved through the strategy to increase ownership of gas, electricity and meter assets.  Fulcrum increased its estate of domestic, industrial and commercial pipeline assets by £2.5m, to a total net book value of £11.9m, which generates an annualised gas transportation income of £1.6m, up from £1.1m in 2016.   The Company also reached agreement to acquire a further £2.8m of additional gas assets from external utility infrastructure providers.

Fulcrum also gained full Meter Asset Manager (MAM) accreditation to enable it to adopt, run and operate all classes of utility meters. Starting from October 2016, Fulcrum has been using its current licence to adopt, own and operate low pressure, domestic gas meters and commenced commercial meter management from November 2016, which will allow the adoption of medium pressure industrial and commercial meters.

As part of its strategy to also grow sales through electricity infrastructure activity, and bolster its multi-utility market presence and end-to-end service capabilities, Fulcrum has also announced its intention to gain an Independent Distribution Network Operator (INDO) licence to adopt, own and operate electrical assets; the aim is to secure the licence before the end of 2017.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “I am delighted to announce another set of strong results. Our integrated business model of providing multi-utility infrastructure services and growing our asset base continues to deliver profitable growth.

“The business has an established and growing market leading position. We will continue to focus on sales growth, improving customer service and using the cash generated to increase the asset base and the recurring transportation income, all whilst maintaining and improving operational disciplines.

“We continue to move forward at pace with confidence for the future as we remain on course to deliver incremental value to all our stakeholders by being the UK’s most trusted utility services partner.  We are confident that the outlook remains positive and that the company continues to be well positioned to make sustained progress in 2018.”

After announcing its entrance to the electric vehicle charging market in late 2017, this new partnership with ChargePoint is a natural next step for Fulcrum.  Having made early progress through the successful installation of electrical connections for several EV charging projects across the UK, Fulcrum is expanding its service capabilities through the partnership.

Fulcrum will actively market its holistic EV infrastructure service, including the supply and installation of EV charging stations, with Fulcrum designing, installing and owning the necessary electrical infrastructure.  Fulcrum will also become a ChargePoint recommended infrastructure provider to support ChargePoint’s operations in the UK.

The partnership will also help overcome the existing challenges of installing EV charging stations, such as dealing with multiple parties. ChargePoint’s decade of industry expertise, combined with Fulcrum’s capabilities and licence to own and adopt electrical infrastructure will also speed up the installation process.

The electric vehicle market, and the associated supply chain, is expected to grow rapidly over the coming years as the UK Government and public continue to embrace the quickly developing technology. In the 2017 Budget, the Chancellor, Phillip Hammond, pledged to create a £400m fund for a national charging network and subsidies for vehicle purchases.

ChargePoint is currently the world’s leading EV charging network and the only charging technology company in the category that designs, develops, and manufactures charging solutions for nearly every use case and supports all of the technology that powers the grid, from charging station hardware, software and cloud services, to a mobile app.

Its cloud-based software allows charging station owners and operators to set their own fees for charging and parking, with EV owners using a mobile app that allows drivers to check station location and status, manage cost, and other tools that make driving electric more seamless.

Martin Harrison, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “We are at the beginning of what is a rapid expansion in the uptake of electric vehicles, with car manufacturers and governments across the world placing an emphasis on developing the technology and associated infrastructure.

“The installation and management of EV charging points is a natural development for Fulcrum, building on our utility infrastructure expertise to enter this exciting new market that has the potential to change the face of transport. Thanks to our partnership with ChargePoint, Fulcrum will be at the forefront of this growing technology.

“ChargePoint is already a market leader in North America, providing innovative technology and payment options for the public and businesses, taking electric vehicles from being a rarity into a widely-available and truly practical and eco-friendly transport solution. We are very much looking forward to working closely with ChargePoint to help drive forward this transport revolution.”

Christopher Burghardt, Managing Director for Europe, ChargePoint, Inc. said: “With more than a decade of experience in the electric vehicle space and a quickly expanding presence in Europe, we are excited to partner with a forward-thinking company like Fulcrum to help accelerate the adoption of EV’s in the UK and beyond.”

The United Kingdom is quickly becoming a mobility leader in Europe as the government moves to implement policies to support the adoption of EV’s, businesses act to deploy charging, and customer demand reaches new heights. Fulcrum’s position as a leading independent utility infrastructure and services businesses coupled with ChargePoint’s technology leadership and deep expertise in the category, will help usher in a new era of electrified mobility in the UK.”

Photo caption: Left to right, Craig Baugh, Head of Marketing & Customer Engagement (Fulcrum), John Grady, Vice President of Sales (ChargePoint), Tony Mills, Director or Sales in Europe (ChargePoint) and Foad Albakri, Head of EV Charging Solutions (Fulcrum)

Following the Scottish Government’s vision that, by April 2015, all social landlords would ensure that all of their dwellings would pass all elements of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SQHS), the aim is that, by November 2016, nobody in Scotland would be living in fuel poverty.

For homes that are currently utilising electric storage heating, panel heating, electric wet radiators, oil or coal, switching to natural gas can help landlords meet the relevant standards on energy efficiency. Fuel bills for the tenants can also be reduced by using natural gas, which is cleaner and more efficient.

Fulcrum is also able to provide support in unlocking funding towards the cost of converting to natural gas.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “Housing associations looking to switch their properties to natural gas often need to work with a number of different organisations to complete the work, but our team is being formed so that everything can be managed through ourselves.

“This includes in-house design and installation via our award-winning project management expertise.

“We are also able to use new funding and delivery solutions to make possible infill projects that were previously not viable. Fulcrum’s team will give landlords one-to-one advice, viability assessment and budget costs, support with funding and grants and information on future cost savings and efficiencies.”

Housing associations looking to find out more can contact Jed Shirley on 07827 833790 or jed.shirley@fulcrum.co.uk.

A team of four engineers were based at the Colliery for the length of the project, which took eleven weeks, carrying out excavation work and laying the pipeline.

Fulcrum traditionally designs and installs new gas and utility infrastructure to domestic properties and business premises to receive gas from the UK Gas network. The new service sees Fulcrum’s installation process reversed to enable energy produced by biogas generators to be fed into the UK network via the installation of new gas infrastructure.

The introduction of this service is part of Fulcrum’s strategy to operate across a range of utility sectors providing technical engineering, design, project management and consultancy services. It has established a strong track record in the utilities industry and includes British Gas among its high profile customers.

The UK Biogas industry is experiencing considerable growth and has expanded seven-fold since 2010 according the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA). With around 400 operational plants across the UK, the organisation also suggests there is scope for more than a thousand.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “There has been a positive reception for our expanded service provision from operators in the biogas industry, and we expect that this landmark agreement will be the first of many successful collaborations.

“Fulcrum has a wide variety of transferable skills, capabilities and has a wealth of experience working on large scale projects, with tight time constraints, all of which will ensure we prove to be a valuable addition to the industry.”

Left to right: Deborah Heary (Fulcrum Business Development Manager) and Mick Carter (Fulcrum Major Projects Manager) on site at Wellbeck Colliery

The new infrastructure will involve a sophisticated installation procedure, including passing the pipeline through multiple terrains – under bridges, within highway verges and alongside waterways. Work on the project has begun and is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

This is the third significant utility infrastructure project that Fulcrum will deliver on behalf of distillers in the Highlands. It follows the most recent £4m contract to install a 13-kilometre pipeline to link Scotland’s main gas network to Chivas Brothers’ Dalmunach distillery, as well as the Tamdhu, Cardhu and Knockando distilleries in Speyside, which was completed a month ahead of schedule. In 2014, the company also completed a 16-mile pipeline connecting four other distilleries. 

The Allt-a-Bhainne distillery, situated on the slopes of Ben Rinnes, produces high-quality spirit for use in Chivas Brothers’ blended Scotch whisky portfolio.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “We are incredibly proud to again be involved in such a prestigious and significant project. Our team of engineers are dedicated to delivering complex infrastructure projects, which in this case allows this distillery to adopt a more sustainable energy supply. Instead of having to rely on fuel oil delivered by large road tankers, the distillery can reduce its carbon footprint and access the gas supply. This project also further demonstrates the role we play to the UK’s utilities, and the trust the industry has given to Fulcrum.”

Gordon Buist, Production Director for Chivas Brothers, said: “This is the third gas pipeline project we’ve been involved in with Fulcrum. We look forward to the benefits this latest expansion will bring to Allt-a-Bhainne and the surrounding area. We take our environmental performance very seriously and projects such as this, which help reduce our carbon footprint, are always front of mind. We are continuously investing in our Scottish operations to reduce our environmental footprint.”

The four remaining categories celebrate the success of individuals; Fulcrum’s Stevie McGill, Ian Foster and Craig Baugh have all impressed the judges and have been shortlisted for Engineer of the Year, Leadership, Manager of the Year and the Young Person’s Achievement, respectively.

Engineer of the Year nominee, Stevie McGill, was responsible for the ahead of schedule delivery of the13-kilometre pipeline to link the Tamdhu, Dalmunach, Cardhu and Knockando distilleries in Speyside to Scotland’s main gas network.

Fulcrum’s Operations Director, Ian Foster, has been singled out for his inspirational leadership and management, which has been fundamental to the successful transition to a direct delivery model. He has supported and enabled these changes by empowering, training and motivating those who work for him.

Young Person’s Achievement nominee, Craig Baugh, has been central to many of Fulcrum’s achievements and innovations in the company’s most momentous year, including being the driving force behind Fulcrum’s transformation into a multi-brand business.

Organised by The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) and The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), the annual Gas Awards, which are held at The Hilton, Park Lane, recognise outstanding companies and individuals operating in the industry and attracts an audience of more than 600 utility professionals.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “Being named as finalists in five separate categories demonstrates the diverse talents of our team; these skills and competencies have been key ingredients to our continued growth and the nominations are a culmination of a lot of incredibly hard work and dedication.”

Alongside its gas connections expertise, Fulcrum has also increased the skills of its engineers to design and deliver electricity connection services and the installation of utility meters to provide a more comprehensive and efficient service to housing developers.

Through the creation of a specialist housing team, the company also offers a more responsive and timely service to housing developers with sector-appropriate project lead times and delivery programmes.

Fulcrum has also further bolstered its team to support the new division with specialist gas and electricity infrastructure designers.  The company has also brought in industry specialist Lorraine Duffy who will head up the company’s housing operations.  

The housing industry will also benefit from Fulcrum’s position as one of only six independent UK companies that can own installed gas pipelines. Fulcrum designs, installs, owns and maintains new gas infrastructure to domestic properties and business premises to receive gas from the UK Gas network.  The company also holds a significant national contract to provide connections to properties for British Gas, which was recently extended until 2018.   

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “The creation of a dedicated housing division will strengthen Fulcrum’s offering to the sector and support the country’s growing housing requirements and developers’ ambitions for the delivery of integrated, efficient and cost-effective housing projects.

“The broad expertise of the team at Fulcrum, which has been reinforced with additional domestic multi-utility infrastructure skills, will enable the company to provide an even more responsive and dedicated service to the housing market.”

Some of Fulcrum’s dedicated housing team, Lorraine Duffy (Estimating & Projects Manager), Michael Conway (Electrical Design Engineer), Kevin Walpole (Head of Technical Sales) Sarah Matthews (Design Engineer) and Ben Hanson (Design Engineer)

The Sheffield-based business, which is the only independent Multi-Utility infrastructure provider servicing the whole of Britain, designs and delivers gas, electricity and water pipelines and connections. In its audited preliminary results for the year ending 31 March 2017, Fulcrum has seen revenue rise to £37.7m, an increase of 4.4 percent on the previous financial year (£36.1m), with profits before tax of £6.5m, compared to £4.3m in 2016.

The new appointments follow Fulcrum’s period of strong growth and will enhance the capabilities of its existing national sales force. Sally Appleyard and Dave Shaw will source new multi-utility business in the housing market. Drew Tarantiuk will focus on working to establishing new utility infrastructure contracts for the Industrial & Commercial sectors in the East Midlands and East Anglia.

Sally Appleyard said, “I feel that I’m joining Fulcrum at a very exciting time as it’s had a very strong twelve months in business and is a leader in the industry. 

“It’s a really friendly atmosphere to work in, but also extremely professional, which reflects the deserved reputation of the company and helps my cause as a business manager.”

Dave Shaw added “Fulcrum has a strong, well-respected reputation in the gas industry. As well as having a great platform to develop my career as an individual, I’m confident that I have the opportunity to give something back and help them develop as a company with my own knowledge.

“So far, I’ve been really impressed by Fulcrum’s customer-focused ethic, which is something that I haven’t seen to the same standard before. They have a positive, can-do attitude and it’s very refreshing.”

Drew Tarantiuk said “Fulcrum is in a prominent position in the market and is stronger than ever before. It’s a great place to work and I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to develop my career, whilst contributing to the growth and development of the company.”

Left to Right - Sally Appleyard, Dave Shaw, Drew Tarantiuk

A growing proportion of FirstGas customers are requesting support with electricity connections and, in addition to the introduction of this new dedicated service, both brands will provide dual fuel connection support.

Through its online service at www.firstelectricityconnections.co.uk, FirstElectricity provides a straightforward and cost-effective approach to arranging electricity connections.

FirstElectricity has a handpicked team of customer-focused specialists, who provide jargon-free advice and have the expertise and knowledge to cut through the considerable red tape that often surrounds the installation of utilities.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “The launch of FirstElectricity is in response to customer demand and fills a clear gap in the market.

“The philosophy behind both operations is the same – to help time-pressured small business owners, small developers and self-build practitioners overcome the often significant challenges associated with connecting utilities to their premises.”

He added: “Together with dual fuel connection requests from FirstGas customers, our market research has demonstrated that there is a need for this new service with customers wanting project management support to ensure that the installation of an electricity supply is achieved in a timely, hassle-free manner and within budget.”

The introduction of the new FirstElectricity service is part of Fulcrum’s strategy to offer bespoke services, comprising technical engineering, design, project management and consultancy, specifically to meet the needs of distinct businesses sectors.

The FirstElectricity and FirstGas brands, while operating as separate entities, complement Fulcrum’s multi-utility services, which continue to focus on solutions for larger developments and more complex installations.

Left to right: Michael Wood (FirstElectricity Account Executive) Jo Kidd (First Brand Team Leader) Craig Baugh (Head of Marketing and Communications) and Kevin Walpole (Associate Director of Sales)

Having joined Fulcrum three years ago, Martin Harrison has played a pivotal role in the profitable growth of the company, which recently announced a record profit before tax of £6.5m, compared to £4.3m in 2016.  

Prior to joining Fulcrum, Martin Harrison was Divisional Finance Director of Lafarge Tarmac Contracting from 2010 to 2014, with financial responsibility for the UK and Middle East markets. Previously, he spent three years with KPMG, working on merger and acquisition and corporate restructuring, and 11 years with Saint Gobain / BPB plc.

Fulcrum’s Group Financial Controller, Hazel Griffiths, succeeds Martin Harrison as Chief Financial Officer.

To support the Company’s continued growth strategy and operational expansion, Ian Foster has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer. Ian Foster has worked within the Fulcrum business for over 14 years and is a veteran with over 35 years within the UK utilities industry, having worked for British Gas and National Grid.

Martin Harrison, Fulcrum’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “I am very proud to become CEO at an exciting time in the Company’s development.  Fulcrum is well positioned to grow sustainably in the utility services market with a balanced approach across the different routes to market, asset ownership and a commitment to efficient safe operations and customer service. Looking forward, the opportunities for further improvement and value creation remain attractive. We are confident about the growth opportunities and our ability to leverage our robust and scalable operating platform. We believe the outlook remains positive and that the Company continues to be well positioned to make sustained progress in the years ahead.”

In 2014/15, Fulcrum completed its transition from a loss making business to a profitable one. In recent months Fulcrum secured a 26 month contract extension with British Gas and the second largest contract in its history. These achievements contributed to its share price increasing more than five-fold in the past 18 months, making it a top 10 performing share on AIM in 2015.

Manager of the Year, Fulcrum’s Ian Foster has been recognised for his inspirational leadership, which has been central to the success of the company’s new direct delivery model.

As Operations Director, Ian has helped empower employees on the front line of its operations - an achievement that contributed significantly to Fulcrum gaining its highest levels of customer satisfaction and positive feedback ever recorded.

Organised by The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers and The Energy and Utilities Alliance, the annual Gas Awards, which were held at The Hilton, Park Lane, recognise outstanding companies and individuals operating in the industry and attracted an audience of more than 600 utility professionals.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “It is an honour to be named as Company of the Year. The award is the culmination of the hard work, tenacity and dedication demonstrated by all of our people and they have been key to our success. I would like to thank the whole team for their contributions.

“The past year has been a very exciting and challenging period. Amongst a number of landmark achievements was the successful implementation of our new direct delivery model. That move represented the most significant change in our history and helped us to improve performance across the company. Ian Foster took the lead on this project and is a worthy winner of the Manager of the Year award.” 

The Fulcrum team with two of the prestigious Gas Industry Awards

Fulcrum, which delivers multi-utility infrastructure services to British residential, commercial and industrial markets, has secured a number of significant projects in this period.

Among them is a £2.4m contract to deliver new gas infrastructure to three Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) sites across the UK. These sites will convert gas to electricity at times of peak demand.  The company has also been awarded a £0.4m project to convert another distillery in Scotland from its existing fuel source to natural gas with the installation of a 1.8km gas pipeline.

Fulcrum has continued to build its presence in the UK house building sector providing infrastructure services to a number of developments. 

These have included a £0.2m multi-utility contract to deliver gas, water and electricity infrastructure to a new 61-plot housing development in the West Midlands and a £0.2m dual fuel contract in the South East to install gas and electricity connections to 101 new homes.

In line with its strategy, Fulcrum is also growing the annuity revenue streams associated with the adopted assets it constructs, alongside assets it acquires from other Utility Infrastructure Providers (UIPs). The growth in the gas assets secured from UIPs has seen Fulcrum’s committed external capital spend increase from £2.8m, as at 31 March 2017, to £6.4m at 31 August 2017. 

Fulcrum is also on course to secure an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) licence by the end of 2017, which will enable the adoption and ownership of electricity assets from early 2018.

The IDNO licence is an important strategic step for Fulcrum, allowing it to broaden and increase its long-term income stream by adopting the electricity assets constructed both in-house and by other contractors.

As a result of the company’s recent performance and the successful execution of its strategy, the Board has the confidence that results will be in line with market forecasts for the financial year ending 31 March 2018. Fulcrum will announce its half-year results on Tuesday 5 December 2017.

The Board will also propose a resolution at the Annual General Meeting for the payment of a final dividend of 1.3 pence per ordinary share, taking the total dividend paid for the year to 1.9 pence for the year, which is up from 0.9p in 2016.

Martin Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, stated: “The successful execution of the Company’s strategy continues to place Fulcrum in a strong financial and operational position.

“Our commitment to customer service excellence, the enhancement of our in-house multi-utility capabilities and sustained focus on construction and asset growth, provide a robust foundation to build upon the performance achieved in the first half of the year. We therefore look with confidence to the full year 2018 and beyond.”

Open to all UK businesses, the awards examine entrants’ overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce engagement.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “We prioritise the well-being of our team and invest a great deal of time ensuring that our operating procedures remain in line with best practice. Receiving the highest level of recognition for more than a decade is testament to this hard work.  Our team will continue to drive improvements in health and safety performance within the office and in the field.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s Head of Awards and Events, said: “To win an award at such a highly-regarded event as the RoSPA Awards is a great achievement for Fulcrum. It recognises their commitment to maintaining an excellent health and safety record and raises the bar for other organisations to aspire to. We offer them our congratulations.   “This year was doubly special for our winners as their achievements were recognised as the RoSPA Awards celebrated its diamond anniversary, which is a ringing endorsement of the thousands of businesses and organisations that have committed to continuous improvement in accident and ill-health prevention.” 

Following receipt of the IDNO licence, the Sheffield-based company is now embarking on a programme of asset acquisitions to identify and secure electrical assets across Britain, which it can then adopt and own from early 2018.

The company currently has an established and growing portfolio of gas and meter assets, which had a total net book value of £11.9m at March 2017.

The asset portfolio will also be bolstered by increasing numbers of agreements to acquire gas assets from external utility infrastructure providers.

Martin Harrison, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “The IDNO licence is an important strategic step for Fulcrum. By adopting the electricity assets constructed both in-house and by other contractors, we will be able to further strengthen our position in the multi-utility market.”

He added: “As a result of being awarded the licence, we are now embarking on a programme of asset acquisitions and will be actively engaging with other electricity infrastructure providers across the UK to create a substantial electrical asset portfolio.”

During the year Fulcrum won an array of major new gas, electricity and multi-utility contracts, including a second prestigious contract with Scotland’s whisky industry. The £4.0m contract, to install a 13km pipeline to link Scotland’s main gas network to four Speyside distilleries, was successfully completed one month ahead of schedule. Additional major new contracts won included works for redevelopments at Royal Albert Dock, Chelsea Barracks and Battersea Power Station. Furthermore, the Fulcrum team also broke into new territory by obtaining their first contracts to deliver infrastructure to biogas and Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) sites.

Fulcrum also gained an extension to its longstanding framework contract with British Gas, demonstrating its continued dedication to excellent customer service. This framework contract to provide gas and now electricity connections and metering services to British Gas customers in England, Scotland and Wales, will now run until January 2018.

The strong operational performance and customer service excellence, as evidenced by over 60% of repeat revenues from existing customers, represents a hugely successful year for Fulcrum. These achievements gained recognition as the organisation won “Company of the Year” at the 2016 Gas Industry Awards.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “The past year has been a very exciting and successful period at Fulcrum. Amongst a number of landmark achievements was the implementation of our new direct delivery model. That move represented a significant change in our history and helped us to improve performance across the company.

“The talent of our people, together with the scalable and profitable operating platform that has been created, have enabled significant and diverse contract wins. We are now striving for sales growth across all of our routes to both the gas and electricity markets, and we are driving a continuous improvement ethos to deliver incremental operating efficiencies. This will combine to enhance long-term future profitability and cash generation.”

Phil Holder, Chairman of Fulcrum, said: “Fulcrum has continued to make excellent progress this year, achieving our objectives and strategy. With a sustained focus on customer service excellence, we can look forward to building on recent contract wins and further expanding our multi-utility services. “The Group’s order book and operating cash flow both remain strong and support our strategy for growth. We believe the outlook remains positive and that the Group continues to be well positioned to make further progress in 2017.”

In the six months to 30 September 2017, the company has continued to improve profitability, achieving a record EBITDA of £4.0m on increased revenues of £19.6m, up by 8.3% on the corresponding period in 2016.

The company has sustained growth in its order book, up by 11% since March 2017 to £33.7m, with a number of notable contract wins, including a £2.4m project to deliver new gas infrastructure to three Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) sites across the UK. These sites will convert gas to electricity at times of peak demand.

The company was also awarded a range of commercial and residential projects, including the conversion of a Scottish whisky distillery from its existing fuel source to natural gas with the installation of a 1.8km pipeline, and multi-utility contracts to new housing development across the UK.

In addition to these contract wins, the company continues to secure a core portfolio of smaller projects.

A key element of Fulcrum’s continuing growth strategy is the creation of long-term, secure, profitable income by increasing ownership of utility infrastructure assets.  This includes adopting the gas pipeline and meter assets it constructs and installs, alongside assets from other Utility Infrastructure Providers that do not have an independent gas transporter licence.

During the six-month period, Fulcrum increased its owned portfolio of domestic, industrial and commercial gas assets across from the UK by £1.3m to £13.1m.

This growth will be enhanced by Fulcrum securing its Independent Distribution Network Operator (iDNO) licence, which was awarded by Ofgem in November 2017 and enables the adoption of electricity assets from early 2018.

Martin Harrison, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “The successful execution of the Company’s strategy continues to place Fulcrum in a strong financial and operational position. We remain committed to safety and excellent customer service, enhancing our in-house multi-utility capabilities and growing infrastructure services and the asset base.

“The granting of the iDNO licence will further enhance our growth in utility assets and associated future income streams. We are reviewing potential funding options to enhance these purchases and deliver increased shareholder returns.

“Fulcrum is also expanding its service offering to provide an end-to-end EV charging infrastructure solution by supplying and installing electric vehicle charging stations. The Company sees this as an evolution of its existing electricity infrastructure provision in an exciting and growing market.

Fulcrum’s strategy provides a solid foundation to build upon the performance achieved in the first half of the year and the outlook remains positive for the full year 2018.”

Secured on the back of a strong relationship with an existing customer, the work represents a significant milestone in Fulcrum’s diversification strategy, which will see it compete with large network operators delivering infrastructure to STOR sites.

These sites convert gas into electricity in order to supply the national electricity network  with reserve power during times of peak demand – as a result of Fulcrum’s work, the three STOR sites will be able to deliver more back-up electricity to the UK when required.

Key to Fulcrum’s success in securing these contracts was its ability to quickly deliver bespoke solutions that met the specific needs of these customers.

The Sheffield-based company, which is the only independent utility infrastructure provider covering the whole of Britain, designs and delivers gas, electricity and water pipelines and connections.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “Our operating model has enabled us to successfully differentiate ourselves and build exceptionally strong relationships with customers, who recognise the extra efforts we make to deliver beyond expectation.

“This reputation and a large number of transferable skills and capabilities allow us to deliver an improved and more flexible offering to these STOR site owners.”

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive Officer of Fulcrum, said: "The award of this significant gas pipeline project in partnership with British Gas is another example of the successful relationship we have developed with them. It also reinforces Fulcrum’s position as the utility services provider of choice for major developments across the UK and is in line with our plans for the next financial year.”

The project is the latest seven-figure contract between Fulcrum and British Gas Business – the companies have had a longstanding framework agreement which was extended in November 2015 for an additional 26 months. The news comes after a strong set of annual results was released by Fulcrum in June, with pre-tax profits having risen from £0.6million in 2014/15, to £4.3million in 2015/16.

Fulcrum has announced that it will adopt, own and operate domestic meters from October and is actively pursuing full accreditation to extend meter ownership to include industrial and commercial applications. The company has pre-existing pipeline asset ownership capabilities and the adoption of gas meters will complete Fulcrum’s end-to-end offering.

The Sheffield-based company has progressed rapidly in recent years, having turned its first profit of £0.6million in 2015, increasing to £4.3million in the year ending March 2016. It was also named as Company of the Year at the prestigious Gas Industry Awards earlier this year.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, stated: “Fulcrum continues to deliver on its strategy and further strengthen its offering. With the sustained growth in EBITDA and cash generation, diversifying into meter asset management and our significant and diverse contract wins, we continue to move forward with confidence for the future.”

Fulcrum has announced that it will adopt, own and operate domestic meters from October 2016

The directly managed service delivery model, rolled out in England and Wales in 2015 has been a major contributing factor towards Fulcrum’s turnaround, with company profits of £4.3 million before tax for the year ending 31 March 2016, up from £0.6 million in the previous year and customer satisfaction levels at the highest recorded. In the current financial year, Fulcrum is performing ahead of expectations and has already increased the value of its order book by 11%.

As a result of these successes, the company has now recruited direct delivery teams in Scotland to manage all elements of its utility projects from initial consultation through to project completion.

Fulcrum already has an extensive record of delivering successful projects in Scotland, in 2014, Fulcrum completed a 16-mile pipeline connecting four Speyside distilleries to Scotland’s main gas network. And earlier this year, the company completed a large contract to install a 13-kilometre pipeline to connect a further four at Tamdhu, Dalmunach, Cardhu and Knockando distilleries.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive Officer of Fulcrum, said: “Fulcrum’s highly skilled direct workforce will create an even more powerful platform to deliver continued growth through customer-focused operations in Scotland.”

The new direct delivery teams were launched at Fulcrum’s new depot in Cumbernauld where the teams were given an insight into the organisation’s strategy, took part in a range of training exercises and met new colleagues. During the induction, the workforce was introduced to the company’s sector-leading tablet devices, which include bespoke applications to enable engineers to maintain real-time records of projects and offer responsive delivery.

Martin Donnachie, continued: “Since the introduction of the direct delivery model in England and Wales, Fulcrum’s customer satisfaction levels have hit record highs, confidence has grown and the company has increased its capacity. Expanding the model to Scotland is the next logical step for Fulcrum, creating a more agile and responsive team for our Scottish operations.”

Fulcrum’s new team at premises in Cumbernauld

Fulcrum’s order book has increased in value to £24.4 million, a rise of 12% on the position at 31 March 2016.  This has subsequently been significantly bolstered by a recently agreed £4.0million project to install a new gas pipeline to a food manufacturing plant in the South West.

Fulcrum has also won contracts for a £1.4 million, two kilometre gas pipeline in the North East of England and a £1.0 million contract to install high voltage electricity cabling to a hospital development in the West Midlands.

In its interim results, Fulcrum has revealed progress on its asset growth strategy, increasing the value of its domestic, industrial and commercial assets by £1.1 million, to a total value of £10.4 million.

The company has announced that it began adopting, taking ownership of, and operating domestic gas meters, in October this year and commenced commercial meter management from November. The company’s pre-existing gas pipeline asset ownership capabilities and the adoption of gas meters will complete Fulcrum’s end-to-end offering. It is also working towards an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) licence, which will enable electricity infrastructure ownership.

The Sheffield-based company, named as Company of the Year at the prestigious Gas Industry Awards earlier this year, has progressed rapidly since turning its first profit of £0.6 million in 2015, which increased to £4.3 million in the year ending March 2016.

Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “Fulcrum continues to focus on becoming the UK’s most trusted utility services partner and is delighted to deliver another set of strong results for the first six months of 2016/17.

“The numbers demonstrate how our integrated business model of providing multi-utility infrastructure services and growing our asset base continues to deliver financial and operational growth.

“Fulcrum is well-positioned to grow sustainably in the utility services market through ongoing investment in our people and processes to deliver customer focused, streamlined operations. This integrated approach will continue to provide opportunities for further profitable growth, sustained cash generation and returns to our shareholders.”

 Fulcrum team undertaking safety checks

"We carried out a major survey of house builder needs in 2013 which highlighted strong demand for our gas connection services on developments of up to 100 homes if we could bring prices down - we've listened, we've acted and we delighted to be able make life easier for developers by removing past price barriers," said Fulcrum Sales Director Richard Atkinson.

Latest government statistics show annual housing starts totalled 117,110 in the 12 months to September 2013, up by 16% compared with the year before while annual housing completions in England totalled 107,950 in the 12 months to September 2013.

"Our new pricing structure puts Fulcrum front and centre for gas connections on developments of under 100 plots where developers can also gain the peace of mind afforded by our expertise," said Atkinson.

"Help to Buy has clearly stimulated demand and led to increasing supply from housebuilders with some commentators forecasting housing starts of up to 39 per cent by 2015. Thanks to new industry partnerships and cost-effective pricing, Fulcrum is well set to help bolster that growth via class-leading customer service on gas connections."

Fulcrum, the only independent utility connections company covering the whole of Britain, was the first ever utility company to gain independently validated "Putting The Customer First" accreditation and received national recognition for excellence in the recent Utility Week Achievement Awards for gas utility works associated with the London 2012 Olympic Games, including the gas connection to the iconic Olympic Cauldron.

He has held interim group finance director appointments in the house building, construction and property sectors. His most recent role was as interim group finance director of United House Limited, a specialist in new build, refurbishment of social housing and urban regeneration.
 

Fulcrum’s growth has been supported by a number of significant wins in H1 including a £3.95m contract to install a 13-kilometre gas pipeline to four Speyside distilleries on behalf of Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Ian MacLeod Distillers.

Fulcrum has been based in Sheffield Business Park for four years and is home to 50 percent of its 200-strong, UK-wide workforce.  It was the hub for a significant programme of change within the business during the last 12 months to transition to a directly managed project delivery service.

This model has enabled the company to increase the pace of its growth strategy, which includes building its multi-utility capabilities and assembling its first in-house dual fuel teams, who are trained in the delivery of both gas and electricity connections.

Commenting at the AGM, Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “We are pleased to confirm to all our shareholders that expected results are on track to meet full year expectations. Our recent contract wins validate the investments made in our operations to continually improve customer service and endorse the trusted relationships which we have developed within our client base.

“We are very proud to be part of Sheffield’s vibrant business community and look forward to continuing our excellent relationship with the city with a new 10-year lease extension for our head office.”

He added: “We are delighted to reach the corporate milestone of recommending the payment of a maiden dividend and look forward with confidence to the future.”

CEO Martin Donnachie outside Fulcrum's Sheffield Headquarters

"The new alliance structure allows for the removal of any element of duplication between Fulcrum and the work of McNicholas as our alliance partner and will deliver improvements in efficiencies and customer service," said Fulcrum CEO Martin Donnachie.

"Customers have told us they want simple, clear lines of communication and consistent ownership of their projects. This working alliance allows us  to provide customers  with a single allocated Project Engineer during project planning, who will supervise and control their project's delivery."

McNicholas CEO Barry McNicholas, who joins the "Alliance Board" to contribute to leading the new partnership said, ''formalising an even closer bond under the Fulcrum banner will provide alignment of our business goals and consistency of delivery for our utility infrastructure clients across England and Wales".

The new and simplified structure results from the new relationship McNicholas will enjoy with Fulcrum after being selected as sole alliance partner for gas, electricity and multi-utility connection works in June this year.

Martin Donnachie and Barry McNicholas will lead the joint organisational Board alongside Roger Willey, Managing Director of McNicholas Networks and Fulcrum Operations Director Ian Foster.

"We are operating very successfully under a similar alliance with Phoenix Natural Gas in Northern Ireland and, based on our experience of that alliance, we believe that customers will be major beneficiaries. Collaborative working will galvanise an already excellent working relationship established with Fulcrum over many years," said Barry McNicholas.

“The previous incarnation of our website was tremendously successful, introducing online requests and generating £3.6million of online orders in the last financial year. It set new standards for our sector – but the new site is genuinely groundbreaking in terms of content geared to knowledgeable customers wanting technical background and navigation relevant to the new breed of mobile devices now in everyday use,” said Fulcrum’s Sales Director, Paul Waite.

Fulcrum’s survey of the evolving use of online information by utility professionals drew responses from over 50 per cent of the UK’s Top 20 housebuilders and 60 per cent of the UK’s Top 20 construction businesses.

The findings show all client groups now make heavy use of the Internet to source information on prospective utility infrastructure providers – with the web being the principal information source for residential house builders and commercial developers and a primary information source for intermediaries.

“Our new website talks the language of utility professions and goes deeper in terms of technical content and utility solution detail, yet makes for a simple and quick user journey,” said Craig Baugh, Fulcrum’s Marketing Manager.

The new website, expected to increase online orders, is backed by new levels of direct design and consultancy support, ensuring clients are readily able to gain additional information from Fulcrum’s design experts.

“We have made significant investment in both the website and support expertise designed to deliver a sector leading customer experience,” said Paul Waite.

“We are committed to be the UK’s most trusted utility services provider and our new website is but the latest example of how we continue to develop our business around the needs of our customers,” added Waite.

David Rawlins, RoSPA’s awards manager, said: “The RoSPA Awards encourage the raising of occupational health and safety standards across the board. Organisations such as Fulcrum, that gain recognition for their health and safety management systems, contribute to a collective raising of the bar for other organisations to aspire to and we offer them our congratulations.”

Collecting the award, Fulcrum Health, Safety & Environmental Support Manager Yohan De Silva commented: “Our track record and approach to maintaining and promoting the highest standards on every site we work on is well-recognised and immensely valued by clients, contractors and staff.”

Dating back 57 years, the RoSPA Awards scheme is the largest and longest-running programme of its kind in the UK. The scheme not only looks at accident records, but also entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

See www.rospa.com/awards/ for more information about the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards.

 “This move has been driven by our ambition to strip away the complexity and confusion faced by customers in the sector and give them simple, clear lines of communication and total clarity in delivery and accountability,” said Fulcrum CEO Martin Donnachie.

“McNicholas vehicles and operational teams delivering for Fulcrum will be working under the Fulcrum brand. The seamless nature of the way we now operate means we can not only offer customers more competitive pricing but also provide a single allocated Project Engineer to supervise and control all aspects of their project’s delivery.

Mr. Donnachie continued: “Industry surveys show time and time again that utility installation customers are frustrated by the lack of clarity and confusion around ownership and accountability between suppliers and their contractors. In an alliance organisation there is no room for that. We are one team working to one agenda and one priority – our customers.”

Welcoming the new opportunities created by the alliance relationship, McNicholas CEO Barry McNicholas said that a similar arrangement between the company and Phoenix Natural Gas in Northern Ireland had been transformational in terms of business growth for both parties.

“This is a proven model which meets Fulcrum’s desire to deliver sector-leading levels of service to customers by capitalising on the efficiencies and focus gained through concentrating on core competencies and working as if we were a single entity,” said Mr. McNicholas.

“The open, co-operative relationship we have in alliance means we share our strengths to the customer’s benefit – Fulcrum in technical know how and design expertise and ourselves in logistics, mobilisation and operational delivery.”

The new alliance organisation follows Fulcrum’s signing of a five-year framework deal with McNicholas as the company’s sole contractor for utility connection works in England and Wales.

Under the resulted alliance agreement, Martin Donnachie and Barry McNicholas lead a joint Board with shared financial objectives alongside McNicholas Networks Managing Director Roger Willey and Fulcrum Operations Director Ian Foster.

The executive team leading the new Fulcrum alliance organisation. (L-R) Barry McNicholas (CEO McNicholas) Ian Foster (Fulcrum Operations Director) James Alexander (Fulcrum Head of Operations) Roger Willey (McNicholas Networks Managing Director) and Fulcrum CEO  Martin Donnachie.

Welcoming Mr. Harrison, Fulcrum Chairman Philip Holder said: "We are delighted that Martin will be joining the business and Board. He brings with him considerable experience which will be of great benefit to the business in the next stage of its development."

Current interim CFO Robert Douglas will leave the business after a handover period.

Fulcrum CEO Martin Donnachie expressed his sincere thanks to Robert for his significant contribution to the business during a period of turnaround for the company.

Commenting on Fulcrum’s achievement in reaching the finals, Utility Week Editor Ellen Bennett said: “The standard of entries for this year’s Capital Project Management award was incredibly high and all those who have been short-listed have demonstrated industry-leading levels of excellence.”

Delivery of the Fulcrum pipeline, which involved a team of specialist designers, a full-time on-site project delivery manager and a team of up to 30 construction engineers, enabled the trio of formerly ‘off-grid’ distillers to end reliance on high CO2 emission fuel oil and road-borne tanker delivers.

Some 95% of the pipeline involved laying under narrow local highways in remote rural areas bordering areas of outstanding natural beauty and included 100m high bridge crossings.

Fulcrum CEO Martin Donnachie commented: “This project was not only significant in its scale and importance to Fulcrum but has also, we believe, had a significant impact on the profile of the entire UK gas industry.

“It demonstrated the multiple benefits of natural gas to businesses with a massive importance to the UK economy – they in turn demonstrated their confidence in the benefits of switching to cleaner energy via a multi-million pound investment.” 

Mr. Donnachie added: “We believe that this is a project that not only we, but the whole industry should be proud of – it has raised the profile of fuel conversion and the confidence of UK businesses to invest in it.”

• Fulcrum won the Capital Project Management Award in 2013 for gas utility works completed at  the 2012 Olympic games, including the connection to the iconic Olympic Cauldron
• The overall winner of Utility Week’s Capital Project Management Awards will be announced at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on December 8
• For more information on Utility Week’s Achievement Awards, visit www.utilityweekawards.co.uk

“The actions taken during the period represent a significant stage in Fulcrum’s journey to become the UK’s most trusted utilities service provider. Implementing our new operating model provides us with a unique streamlined end–to-end nationwide service and customers, such as British Gas, have welcomed the clear ownership and improved communication.

“Our cost base is now in a position where we can produce consistent profits at the levels of turnover we are currently delivering. The remainder of 2014 will see the conclusion of the transition phase of Fulcrum’s development and the focus will move to driving growth in 2015.”

In the period to 30 September 2014 the company, which employs 118 people, has delivered cost savings of £1.5 million and implemented an enhanced operating model, which provides customers with a single point of contact from initial enquiry to the point of delivery through one brand.

New contracts won by Fulcrum during the period include the £0.7 million installation of gas, water and electricity connections to a new mixed use development in Crosshands, Llanelli, West Wales; designing and installing two gas infrastructure projects with a combined value over £0.5 million as part of The Improving Homes Scheme for Lambeth Living and a six figure contract to convert an animal food processing plant to natural gas by installing a new 1.5 kilometre gas pipeline.

Mr Donnachie said: “This could not have happened without the hard work and commitment of our staff. It has been a period of radical change, but we are now in a much stronger position to expand and enhance the business.”

As the only independent utilities infrastructure provider covering the whole of Britain, the focus now will move to driving growth in 2015 by improving sales performance and driving high value opportunities.

Mr Donnachie added:  “The order book remains strong, quality of earnings has improved and new contracts have been won.

“Looking ahead, investment is planned to bring new people into the sales team. Along with Fulcrum’s ability to deliver technical engineering, design, project management, consultancy and audit services across gas and multi-utility connections, we are confident the future will produce a wealth of opportunities.”

The changes to the model are expected to be profit enhancing in the financial year ending March 2016 and thereafter. Due to the Company’s more selective approach to tendering for more profitable work, margins are continuing to strengthen.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive Officer at Fulcrum, said: “The move to take control over our delivery is a logical evolutionary step in enabling us to provide the best customer service in the industry.

“Operating as a single organisation will make us be more agile and allow us to accelerate some of our other plans such as improving our multi-utility capability.”

Fulcrum, which is the only independent utilities infrastructure provider covering the whole of Britain, designs and delivers water, gas and electric pipelines and connections and recently announced its first operating profit after a major restructure. In this latest move, people employed by McNicholas under the current structure will be TUPE transferred to Fulcrum, doubling the size of the company’s workforce to over 230.

Mr Donnachie added: “This move has been mutually agreed by Fulcrum and McNicholas, who we have enjoyed working with over the last few years. I firmly believe that we could not have had a better partner than McNicholas to enable us to reach this point and I would like to thank them for their significant contribution.”

Barry McNicholas, Chief Executive Officer at McNicholas, said: “We are delighted to have partnered Fulcrum on their journey up to this point and we wish them every success in the future. We will continue to provide full support and will work constructively with Fulcrum throughout the transition period.”

“For small businesses wanting a one-off connection, local housing developers working on smaller sites or people who just don’t know where to start when needing to get connected, FirstGas provides a clear and straightforward solution,” said Fulcrum CEO, Martin Donnachie.

“With FirstGas, making a request for a new gas connection now takes just a few clicks – its fast, simple and promises free advice with a quick call-back service.”

“The FirstGas brand aims to become the go-to site for anyone seeking a jargon-free champion of customer-service in our industry and has been launched following extensive research of the gas connections market,” said Head of Marketing and Communications, Craig Baugh.

He continued: “Our surveys show customers with infrequent, limited or one-off gas connection needs are often baffled by the complexity of our industry and find getting connected much more challenging than it should be. FirstGas is now here to do something about that.

“FirstGas sweeps away outdated industry norms, working incredibly close to customers throughout the process and keeping them informed in an open, straightforward and importantly, jargon-free way.”

The new FirstGas brand will complement and operate separately from Fulcrum’s existing utility solutions services for professional development businesses, specifiers and large house builders; Fulcrum’s existing website www.fulcrum.co.uk will continue to focus on technical support for larger developments and more complex installations.

Fulcrum is also represented in the awards for individuals with nominations for Chief Executive Officer, Martin Donnachie, in the Manager of the Year category and Head of Commercial, Carly Gilchrist, who has been shortlisted for the Young Person’s Achievement Award.

These nominations build on the company’s previous success in the awards, which came in 2014 when it won Engineer of the Year.

The company designs and delivers gas, electric and water connections and has delivered a substantial transformation within the last 12 months.  Now employing in excess of 200 people, Fulcrum has achieved record half-year profits for the first time in its history, established a strong order book with a succession of contracts and agreements from customers including British Gas Business.  

Fulcrum has also expanded its operations with the launch of a directly-managed delivery model, which enables the company to directly control projects from initial consultations through to project completion. 

Throughout this process Fulcrum has continued to maintain and build upon its customer-focused aspirations.  This has been achieved by putting customers at the heart of its business systems, building levels of trust and confidence not always experienced by those engaging with utility infrastructure providers.

The Gas Industry Awards, organised by Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) and Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM), recognise innovation, creativity and talent from within the sector. 

Taking place on 14 May at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London, the event brings together more than 600 senior representatives from the gas industry with guests from government and its agencies.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive Officer at Fulcrum, said: “Being shortlisted in four categories at the Gas Industry Awards endorses the significant transformation we have delivered at Fulcrum. 

“We have laid the foundations for a positive future for the company and its workforce and we are in strong position to deliver further expansion and services.

“We are also changing the culture and perception of our sector through improved and collaborative customer service, which is proving successful and is being recognised by the industry through these nominations.”

Vic Tuffen, President of EUA, said: “When you have an industry that is crammed full of talented people and exceptional companies such as ours, no one can deny that it’s a huge honour to be nominated for these awards.

“On Behalf of EUA and IGEM, I would like to wish all of the shortlisted nominees the best of luck and we look forward to seeing them at the Park Lane Hilton on 14 May for what promises to be a spectacular event.”

It has undergone a period of significant restructuring, which led to the company recording its first half-year profits in its history and recently announced in a recent trading update that its full year results for 2014-15 will be in line with market expectations.

Following the conclusion of its infrastructure services delivery arrangement with contractor McNicholas, the company is now directly managing all elements of its utilities projects across England and Wales from initial consultations through to project completion.

As a result of this restructuring, the business has doubled the size of its workforce to in excess of 200, which includes people previously employed by McNicholas under the previous structure that have now transferred to Fulcrum.

As part of its expansion, Fulcrum has rewarded its workforce with a new incentive scheme, which has seen each member of staff receive £100 worth of company shares.

The company has also invested in a new fleet of more than 30 Fulcrum-branded vehicles to support its project delivery activities.

To mark the introduction of the new strategy, the company held a Launch Event where the new members of Fulcrum’s workforce were given a greater insight into the organisation’s strategy, met with new colleagues and took part in a range of training and personal development activities.

At the event the workforce was introduced to the company’s investment in technology with the addition of tablet devices containing bespoke applications to enable engineers to maintain real-time records of projects and offer a more responsive delivery.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive Officer of Fulcrum, said: “Bringing our expanded and highly-skilled workforce together will create a powerful platform to deliver continued growth through customer-focused operations.

“Direct management of our services makes Fulcrum more agile and responsive to customer requirements and enables the business to share its skills base and expertise to increase our multi-utility capabilities.  This is part of our strategy to generate sustainable operations that will build upon the financial success achieved in 2014 and enhance our profit growth opportunities moving forward.” 

Developed in partnership with and delivered by leadership development expert RedSky Learning, which works with blue chip organisations such as Savills, Neals Yard and Pets at Home, the “Leading the Way” personal development programme has been instrumental in Fulcrum achieving record half-year operational profits with a greater focus on customer service and meeting their needs.

Fulcrum has invested £60,000 in the nine-month programme, which has also seen the company improve its structure and re-shape its processes for its now 200-strong workforce.

In addition to the Leadership Award, Fulcrum is also up for the Company of the Year Award and its Chief Executive Officer, Martin Donnachie, has been shortlisted for the Manager of the Year category, with Head of Commercial, Carly Gilchrist, shortlisted for the Young Person’s Achievement Award.

  Martin Donnachie, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “Customer service and satisfaction is at the heart of what we do and by investing in a bespoke development programme, this has been instrumental in our recent financial and award successes. Our staff now have the confidence and attitudinal tools to deal with change so that the business can continue to be flexible in the face of future opportunities and challenges.

“RedSky have been fantastic. We’ve already seen the positive impact delivered by the programme during our transformation and that great work will continue with more Fulcrum people taking part in the programme later in the year.”

Gill Bryant-Green, Director at Redsky Learning, said: “Businesses are increasingly seeing the value in investing in staff leadership. We worked closely with Fulcrum, as we do with all our clients, to create a bespoke programme which really focused on the wider company objectives and ensuring an impact on profitability. The tangible return on investment that Fulcrum has seen is testament to the impact of this award-worthy programme.”

Mr Donnachie has overseen a period of growth and significant change at Fulcrum, which employs in excess of 200 people, that has seen the company move into profit for the first time and has subsequently launched a directly-managed delivery model.

Carly, a Business and Management graduate from Sheffield Hallam University, has progressed rapidly at Fulcrum, starting out as an intern and joining the company’s Graduate Development Programme to being appointed Commercial Manager in 2012 and then, in September 2014, Fulcrum’s Head of Commercial -at the age of 28, making her the youngest member of Fulcrum’s Executive Board.

The company has been shortlisted in four categories overall, including the Company of the Year Award and the Leadership Award for its bespoke staff development programme, building on Fulcrum’s previous success at the 2014 awards, when it won the Engineer of the Year award.

The Gas Industry Awards will see more than 600 senior representatives from the gas industry, including guests from government and its agencies, gather at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London on 14 May.

The event, organised by the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) and Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM), recognises innovation, creativity and talent from within the sector.

Mr Donnachie said: “We have undergone a significant transformation as a company, where customer service is at the heart of everything we do, and to be up for four leading industry awards is down to the hard work of our people. 

“It is great to be recognised in the Manager of the Year category and for Carly to be nominated for the Young Person’s Achievement Award is a testament to her commitment and drive to succeed in the industry. She has a fantastic career ahead of her.” 

Carly said: “I am proud to have been nominated for such a prestigious award. It was a huge honour for me to be appointed to the Executive Board last year and I intend to continue to help the company grow further.” 

 Carly Gilchrist, Young Person's Award Finalist

Carly, a Business and Management graduate from Sheffield Hallam University, has progressed rapidly at Fulcrum, starting out as an intern and joining the company’s Graduate Development Programme.

She went on to be appointed Commercial Manager in 2012 and then, in September 2014, she became Fulcrum’s Head of Commercial, at the age of 28, making her the youngest member of Fulcrum’s Executive Board.

The Gas Industry Awards, organised by the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) and Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM), recognises innovation, creativity and talent from within the sector.

Carly said: “I was shocked, but so proud to hear my name announced as the winner.  Fulcrum has been a very supportive employer from the moment I began my internship and throughout my career with the company.   It has enabled me to develop opportunities to not only enhance my career, but also have an influence on the growth and evolution of the business.”

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “Carly is an excellent example of the calibre of people we have at Fulcrum and our commitment to providing structured career paths for our people.  Her dedication to the business and the fresh ideas she brings to our operations are second to none and she fully deserves this award.”  

Carly Gilchrist, Young Person’s Achievement Award Winner 2015

The company has a solid order book and has identified a sales pipeline to build upon its customer base of 1,200 UK clients, which has delivered strong recurrent revenues with over half of its business generated from existing customers.  As a result, Fulcrum’s Board has proposed a maiden dividend. 

Fulcrum, which is the only independent utilities infrastructure provider covering the whole of Britain designing and delivering gas, electricity and water pipelines and connections, underwent a programme of restructuring in the last 18 months reducing its fixed cost base and overheads from £17m to £11m creating a solid platform for financial stability and growth.

During the last financial year the company launched a directly managed delivery model as part of its strategic growth strategy. Under this new model, Fulcrum manages all elements of its utilities projects across England and Wales from initial consultations through to project completion. 

As a result of this restructuring, the business has doubled the size of its workforce to in excess of 200.

The expanded workforce has been supported by investments in a fleet of 30 new branded vehicles and mobile technology to deliver real-time project records and response.

During 2015 Fulcrum secured a number of significant contracts including the £0.7m installation of gas, water, electricity connections to new mixed-used development in Wales.  It also won a £0.5m design and in stallion project for OCO Ltd, The Improving Homes Schemes for Lambeth Living and £0.3m gas infrastructure works for a new 171 housing development in Nottinghamshire.

Fulcrum also confirmed a one-year extension to its framework contract for British Gas Business, across England, Wales and Scotland, to November 2015 with an option for an extension.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive Officer said:  “Fulcrum has delivered its first ever operating profit, a significant achievement, which reflects the management team’s successful turnaround and transition of the business.  With our established customer base, trusted delivery and anticipated upturn in construction activity, we have a robust platform from which to leverage sales growth.

“Our targeted growth strategy is focused on winning major projects, enhancing key account relationships through improved levels of service and increasing penetration in the housing market. We will build our multi-utility capability and will have the first in-house dual fuel teams fully operational in 2015/16. This will be a key differentiator when combined with our customer service led, national, broad offering.”

Phil Holder, Chairman of Fulcrum, said: “Fulcrum has made excellent progress this year. We have repositioned the business to provide a robust and strong platform for growth. These achievements have been attained on the back of the strength of the management team, tenacity of our workforce and hard work.

“The Company can now focus on customer service excellence, profitable growth and maximising opportunities in the attractive markets we serve. Not only do we remain confident in the future, we are also on track to achieve our aim of becoming the nation’s most trusted utilities provider.

“The Board intends to introduce and grow a dividend in line with the underlying earnings of the group, while maintaining dividend cover at a prudent level. We are, therefore, delighted to announce that the Board has decided to propose a maiden dividend, subject to shareholder approval. This reflects our confidence in the future.”

Fulcrum Support Operative Paul Kitchen (left) and Business Development Manager Tim Carroll (right) on the site of a new gas infrastructure project in Watford, Herts

Awarded by a partnership of three whisky companies that will share the cost of the pipeline, Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Ian MacLeod Distillers, the connection to the gas network will help reduce the distilleries’ carbon footprints by cutting their reliance on fuel oil and ending the need for its delivery by road tankers during the summer months. As a result of the limitations of the current local gas infrastructure, the new pipeline will enable the distilleries to receive a gas supply from 1st April until 30th September each year, when domestic usage is lower.

Scheduled to begin in August 2015, the project will be delivered by a dedicated team of Fulcrum project managers and engineers. Among the challenges the team will overcome is the transportation of gas across the river Spey.

A bespoke-engineered system has been designed by Fulcrum, which will carry the pipeline across the river at Carronbridge without impacting on the local environment and dramatic scenery. 

The awarding of this project follows on from Fulcrum’s completion of a 16-mile pipeline connecting four other Speyside distilleries in 2014.  Fulcrum’s largest contract to date, the £7.6million project brought gas to Cragganmore, The Glenlivet, Tormore and Tomintoul distilleries on behalf of Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Angus Dundee. As a result, the distilleries have been able to switch to a less carbon-intensive fuel source.

The delivery of the project and this latest contract have been supported by the work of a government initiated gas taskforce, which have come together to address the region and its industry’s power infrastructure requirements.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “We are very proud to continue our relationship with Scotland’s historic whisky industry and support its drive to achieve long-term environmental efficiencies.  

“The project will also further strengthen Scotland’s gas infrastructure by bringing new connections to important businesses that are major local employers and make a significant contribution to the economy.” 

Keith Miller, Diageo Distilling and Maturation Director, said: “We are delighted to be investing in partnership with our Scotch Whisky industry colleagues to develop the gas infrastructure on Speyside. The new pipeline will improve the sustainability of our distilleries and it demonstrates again the contribution our industry makes to the local economy.” 

Mike Younger, Finance Director for Ian MacLeod Distillers, said: “Ian MacLeod Distillers is pleased to have the opportunity to bring gas into Tamdhu, we look forward to the time when the supply is available throughout the year.”

Gordon Buist, Production Director for Chivas Brothers, said: “Chivas Brothers is pleased to collaborate on another gas pipeline project, bringing as it does considerable transport and carbon footprint benefits. It does, however, highlight the constraints of the gas network in this area of Scotland, in that the gas supply will only be available during the summer.”

(Left to Right) – Fulcrum Operations Managers Grant Watson and Sammy Waters and Fulcrum Regional Manager Ronnie Close outside Dalmunach Distillery

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive Officer of Fulcrum, said: “We are delighted to announce this new contract extension with British Gas.  It validates the investments we have made in our operations to support our customers and demonstrates the excellent relationships that have been cultivated between both businesses.  Our project engineers, designers and site operatives work incredibly closely with British Gas, which ensures leading levels of project delivery and customer service.

“This new agreement will enable us to work alongside British Gas to further enhance the services we provide to its customers across England, Scotland and Wales.”

Stuart Margerrison, Head of BG’s Business Installations said; “We’re very pleased to announce the extension of our contract with Fulcrum until January 2018. Our decision reflects the confidence we have in them to continue to deliver leading levels of service to our business customers.   We’ll continue to work closely and collaboratively with Fulcrum for the benefit of our customers.”

The contract extension follows on from a number of recent prestigious contract wins for Fulcrum.  Most recently, the company secured the delivery of new gas connections to four major Scottish distilleries in a contract worth £3.95 million.

In June, Fulcrum reported its first operating profit in its history, for the financial year ending March 2015, while at the end of September, the company announced its half year results for 2015-16, due to be published in December, remain on track to meet full year expectations. 

Further reflecting the progress Fulcrum is making and its confidence in its long-term strategy, the company also recently signed a new 10-year extension for its head office in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Martin Donnachie commented: “We continue to enhance our solid order book and extend our strong customer base of more than 1,200 UK clients, which can be attributed to the robust business structure we have in place and has been supported with our excellent levels of customer service.”

Fulcrum Regional Manager Bill Baggaley (left) Jaime Hardy (Centre) Fulcrum Key Account Manager for British Gas and Richard Butler, Business Relationship Manager for British Gas Connections & Metering reviewing a recently completed business gas infrastructure project in Newport Pagnall.

“The wider housing sector supply chain has a very important role to play in supporting the delivery of 400,000 new homes across Britain.

The additional Government money to drive house building is very welcome, and it is important that the industry works together and takes the opportunity to deliver cost-effective and efficient housing developments, which enable people to get onto the housing ladder sooner rather than later.

An industry-wide, collaborative effort is now needed to ensure projects, such as utility infrastructure, can be delivered quickly and competitively so the nation can maximise the benefit from the funding of new homes.”

Fulcrum’s performance has been attributed to its ability to consistently secure works across its broad client base, completing over 1,100 projects under £100,000 across the UK, in addition to a number of high profile projects in the first half of the financial year.

Most notably, Fulcrum secured a £4million project to provide a 13km pipeline to link four well-known whisky distilleries to Scotland’s main gas network in the Highlands, which is currently on course to be completed in early 2016.

In addition, Fulcrum’s national framework contract to provide connections to British Gas’ business customers in England, Scotland and Wales was recently extended by a further 26 months to 31 January 2018. This extension supports Fulcrum’s commitment to building and developing its 1,200-strong client base.

Fulcrum’s move to a direct delivery model in April 2015 has helped expand its workforce to over 200 and has given the business direct control of the full operational process from design through to installation.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: “Fulcrum has continued to make excellent progress. Our core operational model has been established and we have continued to deliver efficiencies, providing us with a robust platform for profitable growth.

“This solid position, together with our commitment to customer service, has supported us in achieving notable organic growth through contract wins and importantly the extension of our British Gas framework contract.

“We continue to move forward with confidence for the future as we remain on course to deliver value to all our stakeholders as well as being the UK’s most trusted utility services partner.”