National Energy Action

What National Energy Action does

National Energy Action (NEA) is a UK-registered charitable company limited (company number 1853927, charity number 290511) founded in 1981 in response to the Black Report on health inequalities, operating as the country's national fuel poverty charity across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The organisation directly supports households experiencing fuel poverty through a multi-channel service delivery platform comprising a free telephone helpline (0800 304 7159), webchat available on weekdays, online self- and third-party referral systems, face-to-face community engagement sessions, and accessibility infrastructure including SignVideo for British Sign Language users and Recite Me integration supporting over 160 languages. NEA also runs regional subsidiaries — National Energy Action Cymru (Wales) and National Energy Action Northern Ireland (Belfast) — each delivering nation-specific programmes such as the Belfast Warm and Well Project and the Northern Exposure Programme, the latter in partnership with the Public Health Agency.

NEA's business model is hybrid and typical of a UK charity of its size (51-100 employees): it combines grant and government funding (notably from the Public Health Agency and other project delivery partners), individual donations and seasonal fundraising appeals (Summer Appeal, Great North Run participation), a tiered corporate membership programme (Business Supporters Group, Enhanced and Supporting Associate Members priced from approximately £50 + VAT annually), fee-based accredited training courses for frontline practitioners across all three nations, paid consultancy and partnership services for organisations engaged in fuel poverty eradication, and revenue from delegate fees and exhibition stands at the UK Annual Conference and Wales Fuel Poverty Conference (delegate fees £129-£229 + VAT; exhibition stands £499-£599 + VAT). Direct services to beneficiaries are provided free at the point of use.

Beyond direct service delivery, NEA operates an institutional advocacy layer: it chairs the Fuel Poverty Coalition NI (since 2010) and Fuel Poverty Coalition Cymru, provides secretariat support for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Warm Homes and the Senedd Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency, and produces policy publications such as 'Clearing the Decks: Tackling Energy Debt to Lower Bills'. Research outputs include commissioned LucidTalk polling in Northern Ireland and fact sheets for each of NI's 11 Local Government Districts. The membership network spans over 900 organisations across housing, local government, energy suppliers (including British Gas and the British Gas Energy Trust), advice agencies (Citizens Advice), and adjacent charities (Centre for Sustainable Energy), providing reciprocal reach for service delivery and a defensible policy voice across three UK jurisdictions.

Name

National Energy Action

Legal name

National Energy Action

Website

https://nea.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

National Energy Action is a UK charity founded in 1981 that provides free energy advice, frontline training, policy advocacy, and research to combat fuel poverty across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fuel poverty advice and support services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Energy & Clean Tech Access (Off-grid, Energy Poverty Solutions) (BPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Energy Justice, Equity & Ratepayer Impact Analysis (EUAMANAN)

Keywords

• Fuel poverty charity
• Energy advice services
• Energy debt support
• Fuel poverty training
• Energy policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle Upon Tyne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: NEA receives donations from individual supporters, including summer appeals targeting families in fuel poverty, and fundraising activities such as the Great North Run
2. Corporate Membership and Partnerships: Organisation-wide membership scheme with Business Supporters Group, Enhanced Associate Members, and Supporting Associate Members paying annual fees for access to conferences, events, and networking
3. Training and Education Services: Accredited training courses for individuals and organisations in energy advice, fuel poverty assistance, fuel debt management, and practical energy efficiency. Northern Ireland-specific training courses also available
4. Consultancy and Partnerships: Fee-based consultancy services for organisations seeking to work with NEA on fuel poverty eradication initiatives
5. Government and Project Funding: Funding from project delivery partners and funders for specific support and services, often conditional on providing services to individuals with certain requirements or needs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

National Energy Action is the UK's national fuel poverty charity, providing free direct services to vulnerable households including a telephone helpline (0800 304 7159), webchat, online referral system, and face-to-face community engagement that delivers energy bill help, benefits advice, fuel debt support, and income maximisation. Beyond direct support, NEA offers accredited training and education courses for frontline advice workers, organisational membership programmes, fee-based consultancy services, and convenes the UK's leading fuel poverty conferences and parliamentary policy groups.

Product overview

National Energy Action (NEA) is the UK's leading fuel poverty charity, offering a portfolio of advice, support, training, and advocacy services rather than a commercial technology product. The core service is the Energy Advice and Support Service (telephone helpline 0800 304 7159, webchat, and online referral system) providing free energy bill help, benefits advice, and income maximisation to householders in England and Wales. Regional operations include National Energy Action Cymru (Wales) and National Energy Action Northern Ireland (NEA NI), each with region-specific programmes like the Belfast Warm and Well Project and Northern Exposure Programme. NEA delivers accredited training and education courses for frontline workers, produces multi-lingual advice leaflets (available in over 160 languages via Recite Me integration), and provides accessibility support including SignVideo BSL interpretation. The organisation convenes major events including the Annual Conference and Exhibition, Wales Fuel Poverty Conference, and Fuel Poverty Forums, while providing secretariat support for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Warm Homes and Senedd Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty. Research and policy work includes publications like the Clearing the Decks paper on energy debt, LucidTalk polling in Northern Ireland, and NI Fact Sheets for local government districts. A membership programme offers tiered access for Business Supporters, Enhanced Associates, and Supporting Associates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energy Advice and Support Service
• Training and Education Courses
• Membership Programme
• Wales Fuel Poverty Conference
• National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
• Consultancy and Partnerships Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy debt adds £50-70 per household per year through price cap, requiring debt relief scheme expansion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Wales & West UtilitiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference sponsor for Wales Fuel Poverty Conference 2026. Business Supporters Group member (member number 56). Leading gas network operator supporting fuel poverty initiatives.
• Warm Wales Cymru GynnescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference supporter for Wales Fuel Poverty Conference 2026. Warm Wales is a coalition supporting fuel poverty efforts in Wales.
• Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder and partner for Belfast Warm and Well Project and Northern Exposure Programme coordinated by NEA NI, supporting vulnerable households with advice and practical support.
• Fuel Poverty Coalition NIflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEA chairs this coalition established in 2010, bringing together voluntary, statutory, business and private sector organisations united to eradicate fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.
• All-Party Group on Fuel Poverty (Northern Ireland Assembly)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEA serves as secretariat for this All-Party Group in the NI Assembly, enabling MLAs to discuss policy issues impacting household ability to afford warmth and safety.
• Fuel Poverty Coalition CymruflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEA chairs this coalition in Wales, providing cross-sector collaboration to address fuel poverty through Welsh Government engagement and Senedd advocacy.
• All-Party Parliamentary Group for Warm HomesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEA provides secretariat for this Westminster APPG co-chaired by Catherine McKinnell MP and Pippa Heylings MP. Brings together parliamentarians, advocates, industry and health experts.
• British GascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness Supporters Group member (member number 29). Major energy supplier partner supporting NEA's fuel poverty work through corporate membership.
• Citizens AdvicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnhanced member organisation (member number 121) providing frontline advice services. Multiple local Citizens Advice offices also hold individual membership. NEA works with Citizens Advice on referral pathways and training.
• OfgemcoreOthersUK energy regulator. NEA engages with Ofgem on debt strategy, consumer protection standards, and policy proposals including Debt Relief Scheme expansion.
• Centre for Sustainable EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnhanced member (member number 115) and long-term partner in fuel poverty research and advocacy. Contributed to 45th anniversary conference discussions on achievements and future agenda.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Energy UK: Trade association for the UK energy industry, whose members (British Gas, EDF, etc.) both fund and engage with NEA. Comparable in convening power across industry, policy, and consumer issues in the energy sector.
• Ofgem: UK energy regulator with whom NEA engages on consumer protection, debt relief scheme expansion, and prepayment meter policy. Comparable in shaping the regulatory environment NEA's clients and partners operate within.

Regional players

• Citizens Advice Scotland: Separate Scottish sister network delivering energy and benefits advice under Scotland's distinct fuel poverty legislation. The geographic gap that NEA does not cover, making it the closest Scotland-based equivalent.
• Warm Wales Cymru Gynnes: Welsh fuel poverty coalition and delivery partner that NEA Cymru works with on the Wales Fuel Poverty Conference and broader warm homes agenda. A regional peer focused exclusively on Wales.

Direct peers

• Citizens Advice: National network of independent charities providing free, confidential energy, benefits, and debt advice. Overlaps directly with NEA's Energy Advice and Support Service and is an Enhanced Member of NEA — both compete for the same vulnerable clients and public-sector contracts.
• Money Advice Trust: UK charity providing money advice, training, and capacity-building for frontline advisers. A natural peer in the debt-advice training and referral pathway space where NEA also delivers accredited courses.
• StepChange Debt Charity: UK debt advice charity supporting clients with problem debt including energy arrears. Overlaps with NEA's fuel debt and trust fund application work, and shares donor, government, and supplier-funding pools.
• British Gas Energy Trust: Independent grant-giving charity funded by British Gas that supports households in energy debt — a near-direct overlap with NEA's fuel debt and trust fund application services.
• Energy Saving Trust: Independent organisation providing advice on energy efficiency, low-carbon transport, and sustainable energy use. Competes with NEA for government funding around warm homes, retrofit policy, and consumer-facing advice content.
• Centre for Sustainable Energy: UK charity delivering practical energy advice, retrofit support, and fuel poverty research. An Enhanced Member of NEA, with overlapping policy research, training delivery, and household-facing advice services in the same thematic niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NEA_UKCharity
• Facebookfacebook.com/Nationalenergyaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-energy-action
• Instagraminstagram.com/nea_ukcharity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Energy Action