Gold Awards: Flick shines bright
An electricity firm ‘‘tipping a traditionally analog industry on its head’’ has been named the supreme winner at the Wellington Gold Awards.
Flick Electric, an energy retailer that sells power to customers at wholesale prices, was handed the award by Prime Minister Bill English last night. The business was also the recipient of the Cyber Gold award at the event at TSB Arena.
Wellington Gold Awards director John Dow said Flick Electric was a ‘‘groundbreaking, entirely digital business’’ founded by a group of Wellingtonians in 2013.
The firm lets people with smart electricity meters in their homes buy electricity at wholesale ‘‘spot’’ prices, which should allow them to cut their power bills.
So far, Flick Electric had helped customers save more than $8 million by giving them digital tools to keep tabs on the changing price of electricity, Dow said.
The company was ‘‘tipping a traditionally analog industry on its head’’, he added. ‘‘[It is] operating a truly disruptive model that offers transparency and lower overall electricity pricing to both households and businesses.
What made them really stand out for judges was that ‘‘Flick Electric are constantly seeking to develop new technologies, use agile products and systems development practices internally, and have a strong commitment to investing back into the Wellington community’’.
Established in 1999, the Wellington Gold Awards celebrate the excellence and the enterprise of business in the greater region.
About 1000 people gathered at this year’s event to celebrate and acknowledge the 60 finalists that are leading the capital’s growth. The 2017 finalists represented an ‘‘excellent blend’’ of creative, resilient, technology-savvy organisations in Wellington, Dow said.
The theme of this year’s awards was ‘‘New Revolutionaries – Disruptive Influencers’’.
In addition to the company awards, two individuals were also recognised.
Property developer Ian Cassels picked up The Dominion Post Tribute To A Wellington Icon award for being at the forefront of the redevelopment and re-energising of Wellington City.
‘‘With award-winning green buildings, affordable inner-city apartments, and the preservation of historic buildings – such as the current Erskine College project – Ian has certainly made a significantly positive contribution to this city, as well as being a consistently generous sponsor and supporter of the arts,’’ Dow said.
Mary O’Hagan was the recipient of the New Thinking award for being a leader in the mental health and disability sector for more than 30 years, including her seven-year role as New Zealand’s mental health commissioner.
‘‘Mary is now highly regarded as a social entrepreneur consultant specialising in recovery-based systems, peer support and lived-experience perspectives throughout the world through her successful business PeerZone, based in Wellington.’’
The 2017 Wellington Gold Awards are held in association with The Dominion Post.