Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, voted most inspirational business leader by the New Statesman.
May 10, 2007
Dale Vince, founder of green electricity provider Ecotricity, has today been named most inspiring business leader in an online poll. Vince won with an overwhelming 60% of the vote, beating the Body Shop's Anita Roddick, Virgin's Richard Branson, chef Gordon Ramsay and Hazel Blears MP.
The poll is linked to the Edge Upstarts Awards 2007 for Social Enterprise. Some of the comments include:
"He has re-engineered the business model to drive more and more money into renewable technology, without losing sight of genuine human"
"He is a super charged wonder hero of green power and proficiency"
"He made Richard Branson wake up and smell the coffee."
Dale has also made it as a finalist for the New Statesman's 'Edge Upstarts' Social Entrepreneur of the Year award. The winner will be announced at an exclusive ceremony at St James.s Palace on 10th May.
Dale founded Ecotricity in 1995. The company, which uses wind turbines to provide electrical power, now services over 28,000 subscribers throughout the UK. This year alone it plans to invest £25 million in wind energy. Vince said: "All I can say is I'm flattered."
John Kampfner, editor of the New Statesman, said: "Vince's ideals and business ability are clearly an inspiring combination. I'm delighted to see him win this." Edge chairman, Garry Hawkes, said: "The Edge Upstarts Awards focus on the entrepreneurial skills and people that drive the social-enterprise sector. We are pleased to recognize a contribution which we hope will inspire developers of innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems."
Full details of the Edge Upstarts Awards 2007 finalists are now at:
http://www.edgeupstarts.org/2007/eu07awardsfinalists.php
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About Ecotricity
Ecotricity were the first 'green' electricity company in the world, it pioneered the concept of making green electricity available to homes and businesses, back in 1995 when climate change was a little known concept. Ecotricity continues to innovate and lead the way in green electricity retail and in wind turbine development. Ecotricity is the UK's leading independent electricity company, supplying homes and businesses across the country.
Ecotricity believes that only by continuously building new sources of green energy can we make a real impact on the root causes of climate change in the UK. By changing where our electricity comes from we can tackle the UK.s biggest single source of climate change.
Using existing cables and meters Ecotricity can supply any home or business in mainland UK. It also guarantees to match the standard price of every regional supplier in the UK (known as the Big Six) so switching to green energy needn't cost more. Something Ecotricity calls 'green for the price of brown'.
For further media information please contact Madeline Carroll 01453 769318