ENERGY management consultancy Orchard Energy has appointed Ian Dickinson to manage its national team of market intelligence experts as the business prepares for another period of rapid growth.

The Brighouse-based firm has just opened an office in Glasgow, its first in Scotland, and expects to recruit six new analysts to expand its Scottish portfolio. Eight further posts will be created at head office in Yorkshire to support the national team. 

Ian Dickinson said his new role would involve keeping his growing nationwide team of Energy Consultants informed of the latest market intelligence to enable them to act quickly on fuel prices and secure the best contracts for clients.

He said: “Our market intelligence comes through a source that trades over $500 billion of energy a year which means we can give our clients bi-weekly updates on market trends and influences.

“In the past 12 months we have opened six new UK offices and our challenge is to ensure staff at each of those bases are kept up to date with the latest trends and prices in what is a very fast-moving industry.”

Gareth Henderson, Managing Director of Orchard Energy, said Ian would coordinate the company’s expanding operation across the UK.

“Our ultimate aim is to help businesses drive down their energy costs, often their biggest or second biggest overhead. The best way to do that is to by using market intelligence to lock into favourable prices at just the right time.”

Daily market intelligence on oil, gas and electricity prices is available at www.orchardenergy.co.uk