The Very Group
Inspired PLC supports The Very Group with
ESOS Phase 3 compliance
Background
One of the largest digital retailers in the UK and Ireland, The Very Group combines over 2,000 big brands across fashion, electrical, homeware and beyond to its customer base of over 4.3 million people.
Headquartered in Liverpool, the business operates from six locations in the UK alone, including offices, fulfilment centres and customer service centres.
The Very Group’s collaboration with Inspired began in 2006, expanding over time into a comprehensive suite of services to support the retailer’s evolving energy and compliance needs while navigating the surrounding regulatory landscape.
The Challenge
Alongside The Very Group and its subsidiaries, additional businesses in the wider shareholder group needed to be included within their ESOS Phase 3 submission against a tight deadline.
Furthermore, changing legislation had introduced the need for an action plan – a group-wide effort requiring board-level director support.
Inspired was tasked to overcome challenges with data collation and reporting and achieve joint compliance across the broader corporate group.
The Solution
Inspired adjusted their approach to address the requirement for a holistic view of the entire Group and working closely with the Group submitted within the statutory time frame and an efficient process for compiling, reviewing and submitting updates on reductions is now in place. The team was already well-versed in supporting The Very Group in meeting its ESOS obligations – having assisted with its Phase 2 compliance.
The inclusion of companies beyond The Very Group made effective and consistent communication key to both the Phase 3 compliance notice and action plan alike.
The team also advised The Very Group on the latest ESOS guidance, giving the team assurance that their submission complied with the additional reporting requirements.
In previous compliance periods, ESOS participants were able to exclude up to 10% of their total energy consumption and report on 90%. In Phase 3 this changed to a 5% exclusion.
As a result, the Inspired team carried out a transport audit to ensure the Group remained compliant with this new requirement.
Furthermore, Inspired facilitated multiple discussions with Director-level employees to define an ESOS action plan everyone could endorse.
Highlights
ESOS Phase 3 compliance notice submitted within notification extension period to the Environment Agency
Inspired already supporting with Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) made data collection easier
Transport audit undertaken to ensure The Very Group remained compliant with the new 5% de minimis exemption requirements
“Our ESOS compliance has been a significant piece of work for The Very Group. Inspired’s support, guidance, professionalism and flexibility in continuing to meet our evolving energy and compliance needs is hugely appreciated!”
Sue Radin, Group Workplace Services Manager, The Very Group
The Results
With the help of Inspired’s compliance experts, The Very Group was able to submit its ESOS Phase 3 compliance notice within the notification extension period to the Environment Agency. The prompt submission allowed sufficient time to define their action plan to meet the original deadline of 5th December 2024.
With the change in scope of work and impending deadlines, the value of Inspired’s comprehensive service provision to The Very Group was realised.
Besides ESOS, Inspired was already supporting the Group with its Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) compliance. Consequently, the team already had access to most of the required data – removing the need to duplicate information or risk any discrepancies.
Our partnership continues, reflecting The Very Group’s progressive decarbonisation ambitions.
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