Saffron Business Solutions

Name

Saffron Business Solutions

Legal name

SMEserv Limited

Website

https://saffronbusinesssolutions.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saffron Walden

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commission from Energy Suppliers: SBS receives a fee/commission from the energy supplier upon commencement of the customer's contract. The commission is built into the unit rate agreed on the contract, meaning customers are never invoiced directly by SBS. Commission level is the same across all suppliers to maintain neutrality in supplier recommendations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Saffron Business Solutions is a UK-based energy and water procurement broker that helps small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and industrial/commercial businesses compare, switch, and renew electricity, gas, and water contracts. The firm works with a curated panel of trusted suppliers, provides free price analysis and no-obligation quotes, manages the entire switching process including Letters of Authority, and delivers lifetime support through proactive renewal outreach up to six months before contract expiry.

Product overview

Saffron Business Solutions is an energy and water procurement broker serving SMEs and Industrial & Commercial (I&C) businesses. The core offering consists of Energy (electricity and gas procurement) and Water utility services, supported by a lifecycle model of Analysis, Price, Switching and Support. A notable program is the Booker Energy Buying Club, which enables group purchasing for retail and catering businesses within the Budgens, Londis, Premier and Family Shopper networks. The company also operates an emerging Carbon Consulting division focused on net zero support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Booker Energy Buying Club: An energy buying group in partnership with Booker (Budgens, Londis, Premier and Family Shopper) enabling collective purchasing power for retail customers.

Products and services

• Business Electricity & Gas Procurement
• Business Water Procurement
• Booker Energy Buying Club - Retail
• Booker Energy Buying Club - Catering
• Carbon Consulting

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £2 million saved by customers since 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Booker (Budgens, Londis, Premier, Family Shopper)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2009Saffron Business Solutions has worked with Booker for over 15 years. The partnership operates the Booker Retail Partnership (BRP) Energy Buying Club, enabling SBS to negotiate improved energy terms on behalf of thousands of Booker retail partners including Budgens, Londis, Premier, and Family Shopper stores. This collective buying power provides competitive advantages that individual businesses could not achieve independently. Booker representatives actively refer customers to SBS.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Utility Warehouse: UK multi-utility reseller bundling energy, broadband, and phone services. Overlaps with SBS in utility aggregation and broadband/phone offerings, but operates at vastly larger scale and primarily via multi-level marketing distribution.
• Opus Energy: UK business energy supplier (now part of Shell Energy) serving SMEs and I&C customers. Functionally comparable to SBS's customer base, but operates as a licensed supplier rather than a broker intermediary.
• SSE Business Energy: SSE's business energy division serving UK SMEs and I&C customers with electricity, gas, and water. Comparable to SBS in target segments and service categories, though SSE is a major incumbent utility versus SBS's brokerage model.

Direct peers

• Bionic: UK SME business services comparison platform covering energy, broadband, insurance, and more. Bionic directly competes with SBS for SME customers by comparing whole-of-market supplier quotes and earning commissions, with a more digital-first delivery model.
• Better Business Energy: UK commercial energy broker focused on SMEs and mid-market businesses. Comparable to SBS in customer profile, broker commission model, and selective supplier panel approach.
• Love Energy Savings: One of the UK's largest energy brokers serving SMEs and larger businesses. Directly comparable to SBS in target market (SME), supplier-panel approach, and commission-based revenue model, though at materially larger scale.
• Switch Gas and Electric: UK energy broker specializing in SME and commercial energy procurement. Directly competes with SBS on core service offering, customer segment, and commission-based supplier relationships.
• P3M Energy: UK energy consultancy and broker providing procurement, contract management, and bill validation services to SMEs and commercial customers. Comparable to SBS on service catalog and target customer base.
• Crown Energy: UK energy broker serving SMEs and commercial customers with electricity, gas, and water procurement. Closely comparable to SBS in service scope, segment focus, and intermediary revenue model.

Emerging players

• eEnergy: UK energy solutions provider with growing presence in SME energy management, solar, and decarbonization services. Comparable to SBS as it expands into net-zero advisory (similar to SBS's Carbon Consulting arm).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/david-haworth-695a341a1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Saffron Business Solutions