Everything you need to know
Telecom Plus trades under the name Utility Warehouse (UW).
UW is a UK-based multiservice utility provider, supplying domestic customers with energy, broadband, mobile and insurance products. UW is fully regulated by Ofgem, Ofcom and the Financial Conduct Authority.
UW currently has over one million customers who use one or more of their services. As a multiservice provider, UW bundles all the services a customer takes onto a single monthly bill. This model enables UW to save customers time and money, where a customer would otherwise have different bills, communications and accounts from multiple providers.
How it started
Telecom Plus was founded in 1996 in Henley-on-Thames and has gone on to be listed on the London Stock Exchange as well as the FTSE 250 Index – making it a genuine British success story.
Telecom Plus launched its flagship product, the Smart Box, in 1997. This device plugged into phone sockets to route calls to networks at a cheaper rate than British Telecom. UW was then founded in 2002 to cover energy, broadband and telephony services.
Telecom Plus’ CEO is Stuart Burnett. Stuart joined the Company in 2016 and was appointed to the Board in 2019 and became sole CEO in 2024 after being Co-CEO since 2021. UW’s Non-Executive Chairman is The Hon. Charles Wigoder, who joined the Company in 1998. For additional info click here.
How can customers save money with Utility Warehouse?
UW’s service bundling proposition allows customers to save increasing amounts of money by taking multiple services – the more services they take, the more discounts and benefits they unlock. Benefits available include energy prices lower than the Government’s energy price cap and a discount on broadband. Energy customers also have the opportunity to save money by having more control over their energy usage with a free smart meter upgrade.
The benefits a customer is eligible for depend on the bundle of services taken and the eligibility criteria they need to meet. More details about each benefit and terms can be found on UW’s website.
UW’s Peace of Mind Promise lets customers who switch all their home services to UW get up to £400 towards any early termination fees with existing suppliers, and 30 days to change their mind and switch away without penalty.
Customers can save even more on their bills with the UW Cashback Card. With it, they can earn up to 10% cashback when they use their card with participating retailers (known as ‘retailer partners’), and 1% everywhere else. Each month the total amount of cashback earned is then applied as a credit to the customers' UW bill.
In addition to competitive insurance policy rates, UW adds the cost of their customers’ premiums to their monthly UW bill without any additional charges. This means that UW customers can choose to spread out the cost of their policy across the year at no extra cost, as opposed to paying for their policy in advance.
UW also has a partnership with Amazon, which enables UW customers to purchase Amazon eero 6 devices at a reduced cost.
What services are provided?
UW currently offers energy, broadband, mobile phone and insurance services.
Utility Warehouse Partners
UW Partners are registered with the Company to work as licensed distributors of its services. Partners make money by introducing people to UW and helping them switch services. They can also make money by building a team and recruiting other people to become Partners.
This word-of-mouth approach enables UW to consistently acquire multiservice customers, which in turn enables the Company’s sustainable cost advantage.
How do Utility Warehouse Partners earn money?
UW Partners earn an upfront commission every time they sign up a new customer, and an ongoing commission – known as residual income – for as long as that customer stays with UW. They also earn commission by helping other new Partners in their team sign up new customers and residual income for as long as those team members' customers stay with UW.
Once a Partner joins, UW provides ongoing training and tools, and senior Partners act as mentors. There is a small one-time registration fee to sign up as a Partner, with a modest monthly licence fee starting three months after joining.
Partners don’t have to buy any additional equipment or pay any other charges. They’re also under no obligation to work set hours, and can choose how much time they want to spend recommending UW’s services.
Partners have access to two major head office-supported events annually, which thousands of people attend: Power Up and Amplify. These events provide an opportunity for Partners to network and take part in workshops.
Many Partners also support their local community and sustainability initiatives such as litter-picking and fundraising for charities with the UW Foundation.
About the UW Foundation
Administered by the Charities Trust (charity registration number 327489), the UW Foundation supports positive changes for the environment and local communities.
The UW Foundation funds the planting of a new tree for every customer who signs up for all of UW's services. In addition to this, it supports the charity The Wildlife Trusts.
It also raises money for disadvantaged communities close to their offices in London, Burnley and Selkirk. For every £1 raised by UW Partners and staff towards any of these causes, the UW Foundation matches it to double the overall money raised.
Support for customers with specific needs
At the beginning of June 2021, UW worked with SignVideo to launch a sign language service designed to improve accessibility for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
UW also has a live chat function. This lets customers, who can’t use access customer services via phone, to get in touch regarding quick questions about broadband, mobile, insurance or the Cashback Card.
To support vulnerable customers as the increased cost of living continues to impact families across the UK, we have started to deploy the UW-funded hardship fund nationwide (including customers of other suppliers), through our partnership with Citizen Advice Plymouth.
As well as offering vulnerable customers support like the Warm Home Discount Scheme, a special process for payment difficulties, and emergency help for customers with prepayment meters, UW is also one of the first energy suppliers signed up to Energy UK’s Vulnerability Commitment charter, committing to further improving the services available to vulnerable customers.
Utility Warehouse’s awards
UW has been recognised by the UK’s leading independent consumer organisation, Which?, for over 10 years in a row.
UW’s individual services have also been given accolades – both by Which?, USwitch, Defacto and many other bodies.
Find out more about UW’s awards here.