Wimbledon, The Open, Glorious Goodwood – world renowned sporting events that play an integral part of the summer months in England.
And this year English sport fans are being treated to another wonderful event – an Ashes cricket series on home soil, following a successful World Cup campaign. The 71st Ashes series – between England and Australia – began at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Thursday, with England looking to reclaim the urn they surrendered in Australia just over 18 months ago.
So why is a B2B tech PR agency publishing a blog on cricket!?
Whiteoaks recently started working with Haven Power, part of the Drax Group and one of the largest business electricity suppliers in the UK, to raise the profile of its renewable electricity and services.
At a time when environmental issues are high on the media agenda, it is great to be working with a leading innovator in the B2B energy supply industry, helping to communicate the benefits of the company’s energy solutions, which include demand-side response, storage, optimisation and risk management.
When we learnt that Haven Power had become the Official Energy Partner of Warwickshire County Cricket Club – which plays at Edgbaston, the venue for the first Ashes match – we saw a great opportunity for PR.
No sooner had the opportunity been realised than we had secured an interview with ITV Central to outline how Haven Power is helping Edgbaston Stadium in its ambition to become the most sustainable cricket venue in the UK.
The facts speak for themselves – by working with Haven Power to use renewable electricity, Edgbaston has saved the equivalent carbon of taking 90 cars a year off the road.
Haven Power is also investigating the installation of electric vehicle charging points at the stadium, as well as solar panels, all with the aim of increasing sustainability.
As a massive cricket fan, it was a treat to spend the day in Birmingham to witness the preparations for the first Ashes test and see how the Haven Power/Edgbaston partnership is transforming the stadium.
ITV interviewed Haven Power director Mark Anderson, who outlined how it is helping facilities like Edgbaston meet the growing demand for businesses to take proactive steps to invest in renewable energy source. Edgbaston Chief Operating Officer Craig Flindall provided an overview of how it has benefited from working with Haven Power.
The interviews were supplemented by filming of the ground staff preparing for the big event, including the delivery of food from local sustainable farms.
Haven Power is a great example of how the energy and built environment sectors have a unique opportunity, through technology innovations, to improve the way we all live, travel and work.
