Rebecca Armstrong, Managing Director of Making Energy Greener, said in a Liverpool Echo article:

“From automation to AI, it is clear that the ‘future’ of green technology is, very quickly, becoming the here and now, touching the lives of those around us and will have a profound impact on our children’s future. But who is leading this change, and what contribution are women making to this debate?

“As today is International Women’s Day, it’s only right to highlight the importance of the role women must play within that conversation, but with only a third of leadership roles being held by women, our perspective is, predominantly, missing.

“Women bring unique insights, experiences and considerations to the table, and our voices must be heard and supported to create a future that is not only technologically advanced, but also inclusive, equitable and beneficial for all.

“Being a female leader isn’t just about being a traditional Managing Director, it goes beyond that. It’s about passion, leadership, and the courage to voice and challenge the norm, whilst also supporting the next generation of women and girls, as our collective action works towards a brighter, sustainable and equitable future – which the many female leaders in Liverpool can attest to.

“I know, firsthand, that women today aren’t just seeking change; they are the harbingers of it. Not only striving for themselves, but also for those coming through and making headway. We are all striving for a new age characterised by both sustainability, equality and technological advancement; shaping the future of women in the tech industry and engaging them in a traditional male-dominated sector such as ours and accelerating change.”

Reacting to the budget announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Rebecca Armstrong, Managing Director of Making Energy Greener, said:

“While I understand completely the financial burden put on the public if Jeremy Hunt was to increase fuel duty, I can’t say I am not disappointed as by doing so, higher prices would  have cut CO2 emissions by a significant amount.”

“It came as a surprise to me when the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, announced he was abandoning his £28bn a year green investment pledge, so to see even less investment in tackling fuel poverty and general green energy services in this budget is disappointing.”

“Nevertheless, I remain encouraged that the UK can realise its aspirations to be seen as the world leader in green technology, embodying the Chancellor’s high-skill economy. I do welcome the allocation of up to £120m worth of funding into the green industries growth acceleration fund to build supply chains for new technologies ranging from offshore winds to carbon-capturing storage, however, I hope to see this funding trickle down to families, everyday members of society, and importantly, career opportunities for future generations to help the green sector thrive.”

Through the launch of its initiative, Making Energy Greener aims to extend its reach to numerous households, focusing on three key demographics: households with a total income of less than £31,000; households receiving government benefits such as universal credit, income support or pension credit; and individuals who meet the vulnerability criteria defined by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). This includes people with certain medical conditions, disabilities or the elderly who are more susceptible to the adverse effects of cold or fuel poverty.  

In response to the ongoing fuel poverty crisis, some of its initiatives include the creation of an interactive live-chat function that enables individuals to not only assess their eligibility for government support schemes based on income and vulnerability but also make it as easy as possible for vulnerable households to complete applications and access much-needed retrofit advice. Making Energy Greener will also establish a helpline for eligible households to inquire about available assistance while building on the 8,000 surveys, 4,000 heating controls, 6,000 heating systems and 17,000 total ECO measures the company has already completed. 

In addition, Making Energy Greener has also made a substantial investment in creating 12 unique videos with the desire to educate the general public. It will also continue its ongoing conversations with a number of grassroots organisations and community leaders with the purpose of bridging the gap between the most unreachable people in society and the large energy companies. 

MEG delivers deep retrofit and energy-efficient heating systems for homes across the country. By launching its Warm and Wellbeing initiative – as well as working with local authorities, energy companies, housing associations and landlords – it is its ambition to make every home in the country an eco-home and help eradicate fuel poverty in line with the goal of reaching net zero 2050. 

Rebecca Armstrong, managing director, MEG, said:

“As a family business, I understand acutely the problems a lot of people are facing at the moment when it comes to fuel poverty. This is a very real issue impacting people across the North West. Everyone should have the fundamental right to affordable clean energy  and this is why I have decided to launch the North West warm and wellbeing initiative in order to help vulnerable people access significant amounts of funding during the extremely colder months. Indeed, I want to make it as easy as possible for vulnerable people to access advice and support.” 

MEG now has access to LA Flex funding in multiple regions across the UK from the Wirral, Liverpool City Region, Manchester City Region, Fylde to Shropshire and Wales, LA Flex funding is available to residents who have a low household income or an illness made worse by living in a cold home making them vulnerable to fuel poverty.