As Managing Director of Enigin PLC I have on many occasions been asked where the original concept of the EnergyMaps program came from and what was the rationale behind the decision to launch a new Energy Saving Company; ENIGIN.As Managing Director of Enigin PLC I have on many occasions been asked where the original concept of the EnergyMaps program came from and what was the rationale behind the decision to launch a new Energy Saving Company; ENIGIN.
As a designer, manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of energy saving products and solutions for almost thirty years I have had considerable experience in this industry before Enigin was formally incorporated.
Given that Enigin has already created a huge amount of interest on the International scene, there is also much interest in how the company has performed during its crucial embryonic period. Hopefully the following information, presented in a clear and factual way will provide some of the background.
The objectives of the Enigin PLC were clearly documented in the original Enigin business plan dated 1st December 2006, which in part reads as follows: -
The Objective of this document is to provide a brief overview of the Enigin Business Model, which will commence full development in January 2007.
THE ENERGY BUSINESS - There is little doubt that the Energy industry is presently going through a virtual revolution with so many governments and organisations alike focussing on resolving the problems associated with generation and usage of our limited recourses. Almost without exception every newspaper contains at least one article, advertorial, or reference highlighting yet another grave consequence of Climate Change – and the call to action. More than ever before people are genuinely aware of the need, and are increasingly demonstrating their willingness, to take responsible action.
It is against this head of steam that Enigin will launch it’s global initiative aimed at helping companies and individuals, mainly in the SME sector, to make informed decisions about their energy saving priorities.
OVERALL OBJECTIVES - We wish to be part of a highly professional company with a clear vision for the future. We love the Energy Business and would not wish at this time to be involved in anything else (professionally that is).
Any forward thinking company that wishes to take a responsible attitude toward energy consumption and the environment - and save a fortune in the process - can benefit from Enigin’s EnergyMaps™.
Given that substantial energy savings are readily achievable, with some specific solutions delivering savings of 30% - 40% even well over 50% - Enigin can provide any company, large or small, with an exceptional investment opportunity.
Do you know exactly where most of your energy is being consumed? How much is being wasted? And most importantly what you can do about it? If not… you need EnergyMaps.
The Key Benefits to Enigin Customers
EnergyMaps is a total solution, which will effortlessly address some of the most challenging issues organisations now face:
Following its Incorporation the Strategic management Team at Enigin went on to not only develop the full range of products and business tools but also adroitly managed to return a healthy profit within the first reported trading period.
Here is the Directors’ Report with the salient material as published at Companies House from the first period of trading:
Directors’ Report
The directors present their annual report and accounts of the company for the period 1 November 2006 to 31 March 2008.
Principal activities and business review
The principal activities and objectives of the company during the period was to actualize ‘The Enigin Solution’ from inception, through test marketing, to ultimate commercialisation. Thereby empowering individuals and organisations alike to Profit With Integrity in the energy saving business.
The company was legally incorporated on 1 November 2006 and commenced its initial test marketing activities on 10th May 2007.
The directors consider the results for the period to be very gratifying based on the company’s performance. This is measured by comparing the substantial achievements during this first critical trading period against the ambitious business plans drawn up by the founder directors prior to launch.
There have been significant milestones achieved within the self-imposed short timescales set for each of the four initial stages for the company’s early development. Following the actualisation of the business plan, August 2007 was the first full trading month where income was generated. In the eight-month period from August 2007 to March 2008 the company achieved a turnover of £1,028,413 with an 11% pre tax profit on business activities. Growth has been steady during this initial period with turnover in March 2008 alone showing £184,000. Given the embryonic stage of the company, the directors consider this to be a satisfactory year-end result.
The four significant milestones in the company’s development were as follows: -
1. Forming a New Company - The original innovation behind The Enigin Solution was first conceptualised in 1996. The primary objective was; to create the scenario where client companies could be helped to assess their energy needs in a non-technical and meaningful way, then be given cost effective solutions in a totally transparent and risk free environment and at the same time create an immediate positive cash flow for both parties. The Enigin Solution makes it easier for both the provider of energy saving solutions and the client company to conduct business.
The founder directors, who are all shareholders, and formed the backbone of the business development team, had for the most part worked together within the energy saving business for decades previously. In September 2006 three of the directors left their successful and well remunerated positions to concentrate fully on Enigin. The business plan was drawn up, the company legally established, initial funding was secured and the development team assembled. By 3rd January 2007 the newly formed company moved into its brand new offices at Charles House in preparation for work to commence on the actualisation of the business plan.
2. Building a ‘Total Solution’ - In the second milestone, focussed attention was given to each of the three pillars of The Enigin Solution. From an acute understanding of the needs of client companies, the comprehensive range of energy saving products were determined as; iMEC – a range of intelligent motor controllers, LESS – Enigin’s light energy saving systems, CUES – the patented chilled unit energy saver, and ACES – a simple but very effective retrofit air conditioning energy saver. All of these products, which are simple to demonstrate, have a successful track record and will in most cases comfortably, deliver a two-year payback (50% ROI) for client companies.
Another vital pillar of The Enigin Solution is EnergyMaps, which incorporates both Eniscope and E-Centive. Significant research and development has been channelled into these vital elements, which have since been successfully implemented into a number client companies. By comparison, EnergyMaps is to the energy saving business what ‘windows’ is to PC’s, a platform on which other effective solutions can be easily delivered and readily utilised.
The last of the three essential pillars making up The Enigin Solution is a range of powerful business tools in the form of Nucleus, Enigin’s own customer relationship management system; ECOS, the Enigin collateral ordering system and PeopleMaps, an on-line psychometric assessment tool to provide the assistance Enigin, and its partners need to develop their business teams.
Such was the directors’ confidence in the quality and value of the business tools being out-sourced for development, in October 2007 Enigin purchased the business and intellectual property rights of the I.T. development company Monstervision, to bring the work ‘in-house’.
3. Bringing the Solution to Market - By May 2007 the third milestone could be initiated given that The Enigin Solution was completed to the stage that test marketing could be undertaken, although innovation and development has continued on every facet ever since. From the very onset of the marketing campaign the company has consistently attracted over 1,000 new business enquiries every month, well in excess of the original estimations. As the accounts show, some of this has already been converted into sales, however there is a considerable amount of further interest and a high level of pipeline business generated in this period that is now nearing fruition.
4. Partner Training and Development - Following a successful product launch and the selection and appointment of some of the first Enigin partners in the last quarter of 2007, the focus in the fourth milestone was on the training and development of these partners to enable them to secure consistent, quality business in the months and years ahead. In order to provide an effective environment for both the training and support of the envisioned global team of Enigin partners, the decision was taken in January 2008 to relocate the company to improved facilities in South West England. Freehold premises amounting to 6000 sq feet of brand new offices at the St Austell Enterprise Park were purchased by Meridian South West Ltd, an associated company, for an investment of £1,025,000, and Enigin became an immediate beneficial occupant. The realisation of this final milestone was achieved in April 2008 with the successful training and empowering of nineteen new Enigin partners in the fully equipped training suite at Enigin’s new, and by then fully modified, head office. Subsequently, additional land has been purchased by Meridian South West Ltd. adjoining Enigin’s offices at Southview House with planning already approved for a further 14,000 sq ft of office space as and when required.
Future Developments
Having now laid the foundations for the business the directors plan to build and develop the company in order to capitalise on the enormous potential within the energy saving business. It is considered that the economic climate (credit crunch) will have a positive effect on the energy saving business in the forthcoming years as companies the world over are increasingly facing heightened awareness not only of environmental issues, (with consumers actively choosing to buy from ‘green’ companies) but the added practicalities and onerous financial penalties from ever increasing energy costs. Enigin have the perfect solution to help companies cut their costs, boost their profits and make a significant contribution to reducing their Carbon Footprint, and this will be the key message of the marketing drive.
The directors have also invested in a technical research and development team who are currently inventing, upgrading and acquiring cutting edge energy saving technologies and related business tools; thereby ensuring that our partners and customers are benefiting from the finest solutions available on the world market.
Growth in the following year will come firstly from the intensification of the existing business model namely the appointment and training of quality business partners on a global basis and the subsequent supply of products and solutions through them to the end-users. Further client acquisition will come from the supply of EnergyMaps directly to companies with the UK in selective areas where there is no pre-existing partner agreements. To facilitate this growth the company will continue to recruit, train and develop its team of business professionals adding to the existing partner development team, which comprises 16 full time permanent staff as at 31 March 2008.
The Directors who served the company during the period were all appointed on 1st November 2006 as follows:-
I A B Wrigley
E W Delaney
T A B Wrigley
B R Willcocks
T J McMahon
Contributed by:
Ian Wrigley FRSA
Managing Director
Enigin Plc
If anyone has any questions relating to the above please contact me.