Energy consultant gets £150,000 loan to create new jobs as demand grows

Based in Hull, River Business Services (River) provides gas and electricity contracts and telecommunications services from a range of suppliers, and helps businesses compare rates to find the cheapest deal. It also carries out energy audits and offers expert advice on how to reduce energy consumption, as well as installing renewable energy such as solar panels.

The company was founded by brothers Ashley and Guy Hunter in 2017. The couple previously owned the Nexus Hull Telecoms business before exiting as part of a nationwide takeover of the company in 2016.

River, which currently employs 10 people, serves companies of all sizes, including chemicals giant Brenntag UK and RMC Digital Print in Hull. The funding from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), will enable it to expand its team with the creation of six new jobs in the coming year.

Guy Hunter, co-founder of River Business Services, said: “Rising energy costs are not only painful for consumers, they are also having a major impact on businesses.

“With short-term government support now on the table for businesses, maximizing benefits and setting rates is crucial for fiscal certainty. We are helping them get the best possible deal in a volatile market, as well as monitor their use and find other ways to reduce carbon and costs.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is financially supported by the European Union through funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Program 2014-2020 and the European Bank of investment.