LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 11/24/12 -- First Utility, the UK's largest independent energy supplier, today opens its new headquarters in Warwick, announcing that its popular tariffs have allowed it to create 123 new jobs during 2012. The news follows significant growth in customer numbers, spurred on by its tariffs topping the UK best-buy charts for eight of the last 10 months.

First Utility has moved from its original base at Tachbrook Business Park, where the company was founded in 2008, to a new 28,000 sq ft premises in the Opus 40 Business Park at the heart of Warwick's tech hub. The new premises will allow room for the growing team of staff, as well as offering an inspiring high tech environment.

Ian McCaig, CEO of First Utility commented:

"We have worked hard to build an energy company which offers a real alternative for consumers. Our business has grown rapidly over the past 12 months, with consumers looking to lower their bills through switching to more competitive tariffs and reduce their consumption through innovative new technology.

"Our new offices offer our growing staff numbers an exciting, high tech environment to work in, which is already proving to be an inspiring environment in which to grow.

"We are pleased to announce that, due to our fast track growth, we have grown our team by 60 per cent this year," he added. "We expect to further grow our market share over the next 12 months, as we continue to offer a compelling proposition which resonates with the UK consumer."

First Utility is ranked 21st amongst the fastest growing companies in the UK in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 listings and pioneered the first roll-out of innovative smart meter technology to help UK households attain better control of their energy spend.

The company has chosen to locate in the region for a number of reasons which include the great local infrastructure, as well as a highly relevant and skilled talent pool. First Utility is confident it will benefit from this relevant skills base and is proud to be growing its high-tech investment in Warwick whilst complimenting other technology businesses, such as IBM and Telent, which also occupy the business park.

Chris White MP joined Ian McCaig and First Utility staff to open the premises, commenting,

"I am delighted to officially open First Utility's new headquarters in my constituency. First Utility is the largest independent energy supplier in the UK, which now employs over 290 people and is continuing to recruit.

"The Government wants increased competition in the energy market and I am particularly pleased to see that First Utility, a company which was founded in my constituency, has responded to this challenge. As well as offering some of the cheapest energy tariffs, First Utility delivers innovative solutions, such as smart meters and software to analyse energy use, that helps consumers reduce their energy consumption and save money."

About First Utility

First Utility is the UK's largest independent energy supplier. It supplies gas and electricity to over 120,000 residential and business customers throughout the UK. First Utility is pioneering the use of new technology within the energy sector to empower its customers to control their energy spend. It was the first UK gas and electricity supplier to offer free smart meters to its customers in 2008. In 2012, it launched my:energy, an online service which provides all customers with detailed information about their energy usage, personalised advice on reducing their consumption and the ability to set targets to help reduce their usage and bills.