ATG Entertainment

Background

Over 18 million people attend live performances at ATG Entertainment’s iconic venues from the famed musicals of London’s West End to acclaimed performances in historic theatres across the UK.

Staging world-class entertainment comes with a considerable energy demand, from stage lighting and sound systems to audience comfort.

Inspired has worked alongside ATG Entertainment since 2021, delivering expert advice and tailored support to help inform confident energy decisions.

The Challenge

With a diverse portfolio spanning music arenas, auditoriums and conference spaces, efficient energy procurement is key. In the past, ATG Entertainment’s energy purchasing had been reactive, with decisions typically made close to delivery.

While offering short-term flexibility, this approach left the business exposed to market volatility with little forward visibility on costs.

ATG Entertainment appointed Inspired during the height of the energy crisis, seeking a more strategic approach to procurement as market volatility intensified.

Together, Inspired and ATG Entertainment developed a structured Risk Management Strategy – striking a balance between cost certainty and the ability to act on advantageous market conditions.

The Solution

The new strategy involved establishing a defined hedging approach with agreed trigger points, introducing governance through an Energy Risk Committee with the Group Ops Director and Head of Procurement, and implementing regular reporting and market updates to support decision-making.

This framework moved ATG Entertainment from reactive buying to a proactive energy procurement approach, with decision-making tied to the organisation’s risk appetite.

This was demonstrated recently when multiple electricity lower trigger points and a gas upper trigger point were hit simultaneously. Inspired contacted ATG Entertainment as soon as the positions were affected, giving them a clear picture of the situation and a same-day opportunity to respond.

This kind of visibility allows the organisation to assess their market position against the agreed strategy and make informed decisions about the next steps, whether this means securing additional volume or holding exposure.

Through a forward-thinking bespoke energy procurement strategy with a focus on taking long-term positions, ATG Entertainment has:

• reduced their wholesale electricity costs by 47% since October 2023, with further reductions of 20% forecast by September 2029.
• reduced wholesale gas costs by 44% since October 2023, with further reductions of 17% forecast by September 2029.

With energy procurement on a firm footing, it was time to focus on energy consumption. Inspired’s tailored monthly reporting showcases consumption for individual theatres, outlining potential wastage and savings opportunities so ATG Entertainment can optimise energy usage across their estate.

Making waves with water management

Water is another significant resource in the day-to-day running of entertainment venues.

Unhappy with their existing water retailer, ATG Entertainment turned to Inspired to identify a more suitable option that could offer competitive pricing alongside a stronger level of customer service.

The chosen new retailer – subsequently renewed – has delivered a marked improvement on both price and customer service.

This exercise carried a ripple effect, with the resulting savings reinvested into water metering devices, allowing ATG Entertainment to monitor consumption and pinpoint wastage in the same way as with gas and electricity.

ATG Entertainment is committed to investing in the long-term future of their venues – many of which are historic buildings. Protecting these buildings from water damage is both an operational priority and a long-term investment.

To demonstrate in practice what a strategic approach to water management could deliver, Inspired conducted a Limpet15 device trial across two venues – showcasing how greater visibility over consumption, wastage and potential leakage could create tangible value.

The results made a compelling case, and further monitoring technology is now being rolled out across eligible venues in the ATG Entertainment portfolio to bolster a site-wide approach to water efficiency.

The Results

The partnership between Inspired and ATG Entertainment demonstrates the compounding value a comprehensive, strategic approach to energy management can create across an extensive estate. And as our collaboration continues to evolve into other utilities and new areas of opportunity, the show is far from over.

The value our partnership has delivered so far includes:

• Bespoke monthly reporting offers visibility of consumption at individual theatre level, outlining potential wastage and savings opportunities. This reporting informed ATG Entertainment’s One Million Kilowatt-Hour Challenge – a corporate sustainability initiative seeking to reduce gas and electricity usage.
• A redefined approach to energy procurement from reactive purchasing to a long-term strategy with improved cost visibility and reduced market exposure.
• Live market intelligence and rapid response capability across electricity and gas positions.
• Bolstered energy decision-making through regular reporting and up-to-date market intelligence.
• Reduced procurement burden on internal teams, freeing resource for core business priorities.
• Enhanced data visibility creates a fuller picture of energy consumption across the estate.
• Invoice accuracy and cost clarity with Inspired’s robust bill validation service.
• Monthly energy knowledge sessions to deepen the ATG Entertainment team’s understanding about the evolving market landscape.
• A more competitive water supplier, delivering improvements on both price and customer service.
• Enhanced visibility on water consumption, wastage and potential leakage across the portfolio.
• Solar installations explored for selected venues, with the potential to generate on-site renewable energy, reduce grid dependency and advance wider sustainability ambitions.