OVO, the Bristol-based energy supplier, is to boost its community links by becoming the latest business to join the social platform run from the city by pioneering firm Neighbourly.
The highly innovative platform links community projects with companies that want to make a difference. Neighbourly will now help OVO organise its contributions to community causes, and manage corporate volunteering among its 750-strong workforce. 
OVO, a leading challenger in the UK’s energy market, places honesty, fairness and customer service at the core of its operations. It said it had joined the Neighbourly platform to support its commitment to positive community involvement and social responsibility.
OVO foundation manager Gaby Sethi said: “Since launching in 2009, we have kept positive social and environmental impact at the heart of everything we do.
“Playing an active role in our local community is central to that. The social nature of the Neighbourly platform will help our team give back to our local community, while as a business we will benefit from the ability to manage, promote and measure the impact of our community involvement with ease.”
OVO, which serves nearly 500,000 customers, and is the UK’s 10th fastest growing private company, will now be able to find and collaborate with local causes that matter to its employees, manage their participation and support for their chosen causes, and then measure the impact of those activities with transparency.
The company has already backed its first cause through the platform, supporting the 1625 Independent People’s Sleep Out event last night – part of the national Sleep Out campaign which aims to raise funds to support people around the UK affected by homelessness.
Luke McKeever, CEO of Neighbourly – which is based at Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub, added: “It’s great to welcome yet another business on board the Neighbourly platform. OVO Energy’s commitment to environmental issues and positive community involvement, in conjunction with its position as one of the UK’s fastest growing companies, highlights that those two characteristics can work in tandem. Supporting local communities is good for the public, it’s good for customers, and it’s good for business.”
