By Nick Ismail on Small Business – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
Smart meters can lead to significant benefits for your small business.
We explore how using Amaryllis Hair Salon, Cardiff as a case study.
But, first it’s important to understand what is a smart meter.
What is a smart meter?
Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters currently being rolled out in homes and small businesses across Great Britain by energy suppliers.
Smart meters digitally measure how much energy you’re using and send your meter reading directly to your energy supplier at agreed intervals – putting an end to estimated bills.
How to get a smart meter for your business
You may be eligible for a smart meter if your business has the following:

fewer than 10 employees or their full time equivalent (including the business owner)
an annual turnover of less than £1.67 million; or
an energy consumption of no more than 100,000 kWh of electricity per year; or
a gas consumption of no more than 293,000 kWh per yearIf you rent your business space but don’t have your own gas and/or electricity meter, then you can ask your landlord if they plan to get one for your building.

Smart meter offerings may

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Originally written by Dan Matthews on Small Business
March 2020 represented a turning point for British organisations. For many employers, what started years ago as a gradual shift towards remote working became a legal requirement overnight, as a stay-at-home order was introduced by the government.
Businesses adapted quickly and many set-up structures for employees to work from home, while others created measures to protect workers with social distancing and more stringent cleaning regimes.
Fast-forward to today and a hybrid workspace, in which employees are sometimes present in the workplace and on other occasions do their jobs from home, is commonplace.
Hybrid working on the rise
A survey of 600 business leaders published by the Institute of Directors (IoD) in May 2021 found that almost two thirds are shifting their organisationto between one and four days of remote working per week.
“As the economy re-opens, business leaders are grappling with the best working models going forward,” said Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Adviser at the IoD.
“The flexibility of remote working has improved work-life balance for employees and cut down commuting expenses. In many cases it has also boosted inclusivity and hiring from different parts of the country.
“The IoD further stated that hybrid working, provides the optimum balance for

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Originally written by Dan Matthews on Small Business
Smart meters are a great way for households and businesses to monitor energy use and take control of their bills, potentially saving energy and money while reducing the impact of UK PLC on the planet.
To date, more than 24 million smart and advanced meters are operating in homes and businesses across the UK, with many business owners requesting smart meters every month.
Smart meters enable accurate billing — meaning, your business will only need to pay for the energy that it actually uses. This could help your business take control of your energy bills. Even better, smart meters send gas and electricity readings directly and securely to your supplier so you don’t have to – taking one item of your busy to-do list!
When it comes to installing a smart meter, you’ll first need to talk to your energy supplier and confirm the eligibility of your business. Once confirmed, you will follow the standard step-by-step installation process detailed below.
1. Ask your energy supplier or broker what’s on offer
To begin the process, there are two ports of call to make. First, speak to your landlord and ask whether they have plans to install smart meters in

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