Energy Procurement for Schools & Academies in Hertfordshire
Your independent energy broker for schools in Hertfordshire
As an independent energy broker for schools in Hertfordshire, Mindful Energy helps academies and multi-academy trusts across the county secure competitive, well-timed energy contracts. We’re an ethical brokerage based in Hemel Hempstead, transparent about how we’re paid, and a local team you can actually speak to.
Every pound a school spends on energy is a pound not spent on pupils. With budgets under real pressure and energy prices still volatile, getting your gas and electricity contracts right matters more than ever, and getting them wrong is expensive.
If you are interested in receiving a free review of your school's energy costs, please click the below button.
Why buying energy for a school isn’t like buying for any other business
Budget certainty comes first
You’re planning against a fixed academic year budget, so predictability can matter as much as the headline rate. We help you weigh fixed, flexible and framework options against your actual appetite for risk.
-
Timing is tied to the academic and financial year.
Contract renewals rarely line up neatly with the school calendar. We track your renewal windows so you’re never forced into a rushed decision or an expensive out-of-contract rate.
-
VAT and levies can work differently for schools
Energy used for genuine charitable non-business purposes may qualify for reduced-rate VAT and relief from the Climate Change Levy. We help you check your eligibility and make sure it’s applied correctly (we’ll always advise you to confirm your specific position, but it’s money that’s frequently left on the table).
-
Estates and compliance
From EPC and minimum energy-efficiency standards on your buildings to reporting obligations for larger trusts, we can help you see the bigger picture beyond the unit rate.
-
Flexibility in Contract Length
We offer a range of contract lengths to suit your schools' needs. Whether you prefer short-term predictability or a longer-term strategy, we customise the contract duration to align with your goals.
Should a school use a broker or the DfE’s “Energy for Schools” scheme?
It’s a question we get asked a lot and we’ll give you a straight answer rather than a sales pitch.
It helps to understand what the DfE scheme actually is. The DfE’s “Energy for Schools” offer is delivered through Crown Commercial Services (CCS): in practice, your meters are added to CCS’s existing energy contract, with the DfE acting as the “contracting authority.” It isn’t a bespoke, school-by-school purchase, you’re joining one large shared arrangement. The DfE’s own impartial guidance sets out the benefits and the trade-offs; the main ones to weigh are:
- A long commitment. It’s a rolling contract with a 30-month termination notice (plus a minimum of 15 working days) - a significant tie-in.
- Less budget control and visibility. Energy is bought on a “flexible” basis, which can make it harder to manage your budget with certainty.
- Headline savings need context. The scheme reports strong average savings (around 36%), but that figure largely reflects the exceptional price spikes of the energy crisis, a period when most independent consultancies were achieving comparable results too. No route can guarantee a specific saving.
- Expertise clearly pays. Notably, the DfE’s own research found that using a knowledgeable intermediary secures better rates than schools buying direct - which is exactly the case for independent, expert help, not only a public buying framework.
For some schools, the reassurance of buying through a large public body - and giving up a degree of control in exchange, is the right call, and if that’s genuinely your best option we’ll tell you honestly. But many schools would rather keep sight of their energy budget, avoid a long tie-in, and have an independent partner who benchmarks the whole market, validates every bill, and is transparent about exactly how we’re paid. That’s what we offer.
What we do for Hertfordshire schools and trusts
Energy procurement
We run a competitive tender across the market (using our reverse-auction automation- see below for more information) to source gas and electricity at the best available rates for your sites.
Multi-site and MAT management
One point of contact and a consolidated view across every school in your trust.
Bill validation
We check your invoices are correct, so you’re not overpaying through supplier error.
Budget and query management
Ongoing account management, renewal tracking and someone to handle supplier problems for you
How do we procure gas & electricity for your school?
How do traditional Energy Brokers work?
The traditional method is manual and sequential. Once you sign a Letter of Authority, the broker contacts a panel of suppliers, often a shorter list of preferred suppliers, and asks each one for a quote.
Those quotes come back at different times over hours or days, each valid only for a short window. The broker then presents the results to you. Crucially, each supplier quotes in isolation, they don't know what their rivals are offering, so there's no live pressure on them to sharpen their price. And in many cases the broker's commission is quietly built into the unit rate rather than shown separately, so you can't easily see what you're paying for the service.
It's a snapshot, not a competition - you get a price on the day, from a limited set of suppliers, with limited visibility of how it was reached.
How does Mindful Energy work?
We use a Reverse Auction Methodology which is the process of creating a market tension between two or more suppliers in real time, resulting in a bidding war that erodes competing supplier margins, and ultimately sourcing your school the cheapest price.
As each supplier bids and rebids, it encourages other competing suppliers to submit further bids, driving the price down to the lowest level possible. Once complete, you simply see the winning offers, and we make sure the process is fair, transparent and gets your school the best available price without the usual back-and-forth of ringing round suppliers yourself.
Below is a more detailed overview of how the process typically works for our school clients.
The Initial Auction Day
This auction acts as a price discovery event, providing the following benefits;
- Gives you an accurate renewal cost for your new budget.
- Enables you to assess any “green” premiums by comparing the "cheapest" price against the "cheapest cleanest price".
- Enables Mindful Energy to iron out any data/portfolio discrepancies ahead of time.
- Enables you to put forward a procurement case to your governors or committee to seek approval ahead of signing the renewal contract.
Final Auction Day
- Your signatories will have had time to prepare ahead of signing the final contracts.
- A final decision is subject to market conditions and a favourable buying environment.
- We index link the market prices to ensure supplier margins remain consistent with the Initial Auction Day pricing.
Why Schools Choose Mindful Energy
Local to you. We’re based in Hemel Hempstead, and work face-to-face with schools across Hertfordshire - not a call centre several counties away.
- Genuinely independent. We’re not tied to any supplier. Our job is to get the right outcome for your school, full stop.
- Transparent about our fees. We tell you exactly how we’re paid, in writing, before you commit to anything. See how our fees work here.
- A recognised education partner. We’re a proud Business Directory Partner of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA), supporting the sector in managing and reducing energy costs.
- We’re a member of the Energy Ombudsman’s Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme, so you have an independent route if anything ever goes wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How are Energy Brokers paid?
Brokers are usually paid either a commission built into your unit rate by the supplier, or a transparent fee agreed directly with you. At Mindful Energy we set this out clearly in writing before you sign anything, so you always know exactly what you’re paying and why.
Is it worth my school using an energy broker?
For most schools, yes - provided the broker is independent and transparent. A good broker saves you time, benchmarks the whole market, validates your bills and manages suppliers on your behalf. The key is choosing one who is open about how they’re paid, which many are not.
Can schools claim reduced VAT on energy?
Energy used for genuine charitable non-business purposes may qualify for reduced-rate (5%) VAT and relief from the Climate Change Levy. Eligibility depends on how your premises are used, so it’s worth checking carefully - we can help you review your position.
What types of schools do you work with?
We work with standalone primary and secondary schools, MATs and independent schools, providing a single point of contact and a consolidated view, which is particularly helpful for trusts overseeing several schools.
Get a free, no-obligation energy review for your school
We are keen to support you, so please do get in contact and tell us a little about your school or trust and we’ll review your current contracts, flag any savings, and explain your options in plain English. No pressure, no jargon, and complete transparency about how we’re paid. Please click the link below or contact us on 01442 504049 or connect@mindfulenergy.co.uk.
Case Studies
Ivy Learning Trust
Awaiting approval
Kings Langley School
Awaiting approval
5 Dimensions Trust
Awaiting approval