State of Engagement 2026 Report |
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In the high-velocity world of utility sales, workforce burnout and high turnover are often treated as inevitable costs of doing business. But Consultiv Utilities is shattering that industry stereotype.
Growing rapidly from a team of just 22 to 188 employees, the energy management specialist has achieved something rare in its sector: exceptionally low attrition, remarkably low sickness rates and a culture where people genuinely enjoy turning up to work.
We sat down with Mark Potts (People Director) to discover the secret sauce behind their high-performance culture, accessible leadership and industry-defying engagement
Many traditional corporate structures place Human Resources on a pedestal, a distant, sometimes intimidating department only visited when things go wrong. Mark Potts is determined to lead differently.
"I’ve worked in places where HR ignore you in the corridor ten minutes after a meeting", says Mark. "I don’t believe in that. Our philosophy is to be visible, approachable and talk to people as normal humans. They know the boundaries, but they also know they are fully supported."
This open-door philosophy has created a psychological safety net that directly impacts the bottom line. While sales environments typically suffer from high absenteeism, Consultiv Utilities maintains a monthly sickness rate of just 2.5% to 3% within its sales teams, compared to the call centre industry average of 6-10%.
To protect this, the company has heavily invested in mental and physical wellbeing:
Energy brokerage is undeniably tough, which is why Consultiv Utilities believes its rewards should match the grit required for the role. The company injects vibrant, gamified energy onto the sales floor.
The company transforms targets into interactive events, running classic games like Deal or No Deal and The Price is Right.
"When I go into the office, I absolutely love it", Melissa Watson (Senior Marketing Executive) adds. "It has such a positive atmosphere, and not just on the days when it’s the incentives. It’s just a lovely place to be."
While many businesses offer standard "buy and sell holiday" schemes, Consultiv Utilities designed a bespoke Charity Giving Scheme that serves both its workforce and local communities.
Through the initiative, employees can secure up to six additional days of annual leave a year by paying just 75% of the standard day cost via salary sacrifice. The company covers the remaining balance and gifts an extra half-day of holiday each month, while entering the employee into a charity raffle.
The real magic happens with the proceeds: every single penny goes directly into a dedicated charity pot, raising around £6,000 every single month.
A dedicated staff charity committee reviews submissions from a suggestion hub on the intranet, distributing large funding blocks to local and national charities, grassroots sports teams, local tennis clubs, cricket clubs and initiatives like Jason Manford's Padel Academy to get young children into fitness.
Maintaining an inclusive culture is a challenge when your workforce spans beyond the head office. With more than 50 permanent home workers scattered across the UK, and legacy staff who have moved abroad to South Africa, Malta and Spain, Consultiv Utilities works hard to ensure nobody feels isolated.
To keep remote workers bound to the core team:
Consultiv Utilities refuses to become complacent. Rather than letting survey data collect dust, Mark analyses Best Companies external workplace insights each quarter to pinpoint exactly three development areas, such as internal processes, benefits, or team engagement.
Recognising the need for a dedicated focal point, the company recently introduced the role of Internal Communications Coordinator, who manages everything from smoothly distributing internal updates to coordinating the logistics of Vitality healthcare, travel arrangements and floor incentives.
This continuous evolution is currently materialising on the ground floor of their head office. The company is actively building a brand-new dedicated games room and chill-out zone, featuring foosball, tabletop hockey, pool tables, a PlayStation, darts and a quiet reading area for down-time.
Ultimately, Consultiv Utilities’ commitment to its people has created a culture that protects its talent.
"In our industry attrition can be difficult with so many other consultancies around we have to be ahead of the curve and that means looking after our people, not waiting till they are unhappy and try and save them. It all comes down to the long road where keeping our people engaged really matters, concludes Mark. "When we take people on, they often tell us they’ve only ever had good feedback or they hardly meet a competitor agent who used to work for Consultiv. People don’t leave us for our rivals lightly. If they leave, there is a reason outside moving to a competitor, they might leave the sales industry entirely to travel or change careers, and on always on good terms."
By treating employees as individuals, dismantling leadership podiums and backing up targets with life-changing rewards, Consultiv Utilities has proven that you don't have to sacrifice culture to achieve explosive commercial growth.
Mark Potts - People Director
Mark is an accomplished HR and talent leader with over 15 years of experience across the recruitment, utilities, and corporate wellness sectors. As the People Director at Consultiv Utilities, he has been instrumental in scaling the workforce from a tight-knit team of 22 to nearly 200 employees, all while maintaining industry-defying retention rates. Driven by a philosophy of visible, highly approachable leadership, Mark champions cultural transparency, extensive physical and mental health frameworks, and gamified reward strategies, he combines raw data analysis with genuine empathy to strip away traditional corporate stuffiness and build authentic, high-performing workplaces.
