Research from SEFE Energy: UK Businesses Highlight Importance of Reliability and Cost

We have recently carried out research into the energy priorities and challenges facing UK businesses – and the findings reveal that many organisations are struggling to translate concerns into progress. 

From retail and hospitality to the healthcare and industrial sectors, speaking to energy decision makers, the research revealed that energy costs and reliability are both key priorities when choosing an energy contract.  

Our study explores what matters most to businesses when choosing energy contracts, barriers to improving efficiency, and where decision makers are looking for guidance. Here, we share key insights as well as perspectives from SEFE Energy specialists on how organisations can move from intention to action. 

Sector snapshots: what decision-makers told us

Retail & Hospitality: cost pressure meets action gap

Retail and hospitality decision‑makers say reducing energy costs is their top goal (53%), followed by cutting consumption (46%) and emissions (29%). Yet only 27% report adopting measures like load shifting, monitoring, or shutting down idle equipment - and 70% say they’d benefit from more advice. 

Where they seek guidance: energy comparison sites (45%), energy providers (42%), brokers (23%), and increasingly AI assistants (15%). 

When asked about their energy goals, retailers prioritise reducing energy costs (53%) over energy consumption (46%) and emissions reduction (29%).

Healthcare: critical operations must come first

Almost half of healthcare respondents aim to reduce energy costs (46%), while 38% highlight emissions reduction. Just 33% have implemented energy‑saving policies this year, and 74% want more advice, suggesting bandwidth in always‑on facilities. 

Industrial: resilience first, but decarbonisation gaining traction

For industrial companies, reliability is paramount (64%), with price second (49%) - this represents a slightly greater preference for reliability compared to UK businesses as a whole, for whom 60% reported reliability as their most important consideration. Significantly, 42% of industrial energy decision makers cite emissions reduction as a key objective - but many say they lack the knowledge to make confident decarbonisation decisions (only 43% feel fully informed). 

Three steps UK organisations can take to progress against their objectives:

1. Leverage available data to identify consumption patterns, peak load profiles, and exception events. Even basic changes – for example scheduling, improved controls, and standby policies – can help manage costs.  
2. Build resilience into supply decisions: consider contract terms that reflect operational risk, rather than simply headline price. 
3. Develop a phased efficiency plan in alignment with budget cycles and operational constraints. This is particularly important for sectors in which continuous operations create barriers to implementation. 

How SEFE Energy helps customers overcome challenges:

• Access to data: We provide billing data to enable demand profiling, identification of anomalies, and prioritisation of quick-win efficiency measures.
• Reliability built into contracts: Our contracts are shaped around operational risk, offering either flexible structures to respond to market movements, or fixed price to reduce uncertainty.
• Practical guidance tailored to each sector: We recognise that ambitious organisations value external insights. That’s why our specialists are on hand to share their sector-specific experience and offer relevant guidance.
• Support for long-term decarbonisation goals: We’re committed to leading the way to a low-carbon future. As part of this, we’re evolving our business to offer more sustainable energy solutions that help our customers achieve their decarbonisation goals. 

If you’re ready to turn your organisation’s concerns into measurable progress, our team can help. Get in touch here to discuss your options.