Andrew Pilley

Andrew James Pilley (born 26 May 1970) is an English businessman. He is the current chairman and owner of English football League One club Fleetwood Town F.C., the chairman of independent commercial utility group, BES Utilities[1] and the managing director of independent utility sales agency network Commercial Power.

Andrew Pilley
Andy Pilley in May 2014, when Fleetwood Town FC won promotion to League One via the play-offs.
Born
Andrew James Pilley

26 May 1970 (1970-05-26) (age 50)
Blackpool, England, UK
NationalityEnglish
OccupationChairman, businessman, entrepreneur, director
Board member ofChairman of Fleetwood Town Football Club
February 2004 – present
Websitehttp://www.andypilley.com

Background

He became self-employed in 2001 due to the demise of large energy company, Enron, which left him unemployed. As a result of this, he started his own utilities brokerage business from his spare bedroom.[2]

Fleetwood Town Football Club

In 2004 he was offered the chance to become involved in Fleetwood Town Football Club. Since becoming owner, Pilley has invested in excess of ten million pounds into the club.[3] His financial support has seen the complete renovation of Highbury Stadium, including the construction of its centre piece, the Parkside Stand, which first opened to spectators in March 2011. This 2,000 capacity seated stand offers executive boxes and a large hospitality area which plays an important role in providing income streams for the club both on matchdays and non-match days.[4] Both the Parkside and Memorial Stands are also home to the BES group of companies, with office spaces built into the stands.[5]

Business Energy Solutions (BES Utilities)

Following the deregulation of the UK energy market, having spotted a gap in the market for new business start-ups or movers who often struggle to secure energy contracts larger suppliers due to their credit profile, Pilley acquired a gas supply licence for his company Business Energy Solutions Ltd with his sister, Michelle.[6] 

In 2009, the pair set up and acquired an electricity supply licence for BES Commercial Electricity Ltd[7] (both companies now form the BES Utilities group). Since then, the companies have seen significant growth and they are now one of the largest employers on the Fylde coast, with over 200 staff based at its Head Office in Fleetwood, Lancashire.

In January 2018, BES Utilities settled a High Court case against two men, in which the company had alleged that they had made false claims about the company for three years.[8][9]

Following the hearing, in the High Court at Manchester, the defendants were issued with court orders containing penal notices. They gave undertakings to the court to cease their behaviour and remove any published reference to BES, its directors, employees, agents and representatives.   If the men fail to comply with the order they may be held in contempt of court and could be fined or imprisoned. The court also ordered that if the defendants breach the undertakings, they will be required to pay £250,000 towards BES’s substantial legal costs.

Both defendants signed the following statement: “We withdraw any allegation of fraud or dishonesty against Business Energy Solutions Limited and BES Commercial Electricity Limited, their directors, officers, agents, legal advisers and other professional representatives.”   

Charity, Community & Sponsorship

Fleetwood Town Community Trust

In 2012, Pilley and fellow trustees founded the Fleetwood Town Community Trust, an independent, registered charity working in partnership with Fleetwood Town Football Club.[10] The Trust is an active community project that aims to provide socially inclusive community, health and education engagement programmes within its local community.

Trinity Hospice

Pilley is a supporter of Trinity Hospice. In Summer 2013, BES Utilities supported the Trinity Hospice Corporate Challenge.[11]

More
  • Maintaining the local East Pines Park[12]
  • Support for Amputee Footballers[13]
  • Funder of anti-bullying programme[14]
  • Sponsor of local champion boxer, Brian Rose[15]
  • Sponsor of Thornton Christmas Lights[16]
  • Providing free and at-cost electricity for Blackpool Illuminations[17]
  • Creation of the BES Fund to support businesses struggling with energy or other debts[18]
  • Funder of national charity, Business Debtline[19]

References
  1. "BES Utilities welcomes new Managing Director". BES Utilities. 2 November 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  2. "Ten years after Enron". Real Business. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  3. "Why Fleetwood are thriving". BBC Sport. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  4. "Fleetwood Town FC unveils new stand". Place North West. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  5. "Growing firm set to create 40 new jobs". Blackpool Gazette. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  6. "About Us | Supplying UK Business With Commercial Electricity & Gas". BES Utilities. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  7. "BES Commercial Electricity Limited - Notice of grant of electricity supply licence". Ofgem. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  8. "Energy firms run by Fleetwood Town chairman Andy Pilley sue for £8.6m over trading standards raids". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  9. "BES Utilities goes after Trading Standards for £8.6m". theenergyst.com. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  10. "FTFC Community Trust". Fleetwood Town Community Trust. 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  11. "Trinity Hospice corporate challenge". BES Utilities. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  12. "Football club chairman pitches in to help young footballers at a Blackpool park". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  13. "Fleetwood Town chairman Andy Pilley helps amputee footballer Jamie Oakey to fulfil his England dream". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  14. "Fleetwood Town aims to give boot to bullying". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  15. "Blackpool boxer Brian Rose ready to write thrilling last chapter in long-awaited comeback". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  16. "Fleetwood Town chairman gives £1,000 for 1,000 lights to light up Thornton". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  17. "New Illuminations for 2015". The Blackpool Illuminations. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  18. "BES' Managing Director, Andy Pilley, to attend Downing Street reception". BES Utilities. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  19. "Fylde coast firm launches fund to ease businesses' debt". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
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