Telecom Plus
A UK-listed multi-utility provider whose consumer-facing Utility Warehouse business bundles energy, telecommunications and home services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Telecom Plus plc is a British multi-utility supplier serving residential and business customers in the United Kingdom. Although the company began as a telecommunications business, its principal consumer-facing operation is Utility Warehouse, a bundled-services brand that combines household energy with communications and selected home services. Its offer includes gas and electricity, landline telephone services, broadband, mobile connectivity and home insurance. The group also has business telecommunications activities and operates the 1pMobile consumer mobile virtual network operator through Telecoms Management Limited. The company was established in 1996 and entered the market with a telecommunications proposition rather than a conventional energy-supply model. Its first product, introduced in 1997, was a least-cost call-routing device known as the Smart Box. Connected to a household telephone socket, the device routed calls through alternative networks in an effort to reduce the customer's charges compared with British Telecom. This early emphasis on telecommunications infrastructure and lower-cost access established the basis for the company's later cross-selling model. Telecom Plus subsequently developed a multi-utility approach in which customers could obtain several recurring household services from one provider and receive a consolidated relationship or bill. Utility Warehouse became the group's main consumer brand, offering energy alongside fixed-line and mobile telecommunications, broadband and home insurance. Its mobile service operates as a mobile virtual network operator using the EE network. Utility Warehouse has also offered a prepaid Mastercard-based payment card, with qualifying cashback credited against bills for other Utility Warehouse services; the card arrangement involves PSI-Pay Ltd as issuer. The group reaches customers through a combination of its service operations and a network of self-employed Partners who introduce and sign up customers. This partner-led distribution model is an important part of the company's commercial identity and distinguishes it from providers that rely primarily on retail stores, direct sales teams or price-comparison channels. Telecom Plus has also maintained a business-services presence. Telecoms Management Limited provides landline services to small and medium-sized enterprises and operates 1pMobile, a consumer MVNO. The group therefore spans household utilities, consumer communications and selected SME telecommunications rather than operating as a narrowly focused mobile or fixed-line carrier. In 2017, Telecom Plus sold its 20% interest in Opus Energy to Drax Group. The transaction reduced its direct ownership exposure to that energy business while leaving Telecom Plus focused on its own multi-utility and customer-acquisition model. Customer numbers continued to expand: the company was reported to have more than 949,000 customers in October 2023. In December 2025, it was reported to be considering taking a stake in OVO Energy, although the available reference does not establish that a transaction was completed. A June 2026 company report cited more than 1.43 million customers, approximately 3.8 million services supplied to those customers and more than 77,000 Partners. These later figures should be treated as dated reported metrics rather than timeless company statistics. Telecom Plus is a public company rather than a standalone consumer brand. Utility Warehouse is the prominent customer brand, while Telecom Plus plc provides the corporate structure for the wider group. Its positioning rests on service consolidation, recurring household relationships, energy and communications cross-selling, and partner-led customer acquisition.
History
Telecom Plus was founded in the United Kingdom in 1996 as a telecommunications business. Its initial proposition focused on lowering the cost of telephone calls. In 1997, it launched the Smart Box, a least-cost call-routing device that connected to a telephone socket and directed calls through alternative networks rather than relying exclusively on British Telecom. This product gave the company an early position in the deregulating UK communications market and provided a technical basis for its customer relationship. Over time, Telecom Plus moved beyond call routing and developed a broader multi-utility model. Its consumer operation, Utility Warehouse, combined telecommunications with household energy and other services. The resulting proposition allowed customers to obtain gas and electricity together with landline telephony, broadband, mobile services and home insurance. Utility Warehouse also developed a prepaid payment card offering cashback credited against bills for other Utility Warehouse services. The cards use the Mastercard system and are issued by PSI-Pay Ltd. The group retained a telecommunications operation for business customers. Telecoms Management Limited supplies landline services to small and medium-sized enterprises and operates the 1pMobile consumer MVNO. Utility Warehouse's mobile service operates as an MVNO on the EE network. These arrangements enable Telecom Plus to market mobile services without operating its own nationwide radio-access network. Distribution has been supported by self-employed Partners who sign up customers to the group's services. This channel complements the group's service bundling: Partners can introduce customers to several recurring services, while the company can increase the number of services associated with each customer relationship. Telecom Plus had a 20% holding in Opus Energy before selling that interest to Drax Group in 2017. The disposal was a notable portfolio event, reducing the group's ownership in a separate energy supplier while leaving Telecom Plus to concentrate on its own brands and operations. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and forms part of the FTSE 250 Index. Andrew Lindsay joined Telecom Plus in 2007 after a sporting career that included membership of the British rowing team that won Olympic gold in 2000. He became chief operating officer in 2009 and chief executive officer in July 2010. From 2021, Lindsay shared the chief executive role with Stuart Burnett. Telecom Plus announced in 2023 that Lindsay would step down at the 2024 annual general meeting. The group's reported customer base exceeded 949,000 in October 2023. In December 2025, reports said Telecom Plus was seeking a stake in OVO Energy, though the available reference does not establish completion. A June 2026 company report described a larger base of more than 1.43 million customers receiving approximately 3.8 million services, supported by more than 77,000 Partners. Telecom Plus therefore remains a UK-focused multi-utility group whose distinctive model combines energy, communications, home services and partner-led acquisition.
- 2023
Leadership transition announced
[1]The company announces that Andrew Lindsay will leave the CEO role at the 2024 annual general meeting.
- 2021
Joint CEO structure begins
[1]Andrew Lindsay shares the chief executive role with Stuart Burnett.
- 2017
Opus Energy stake is sold
[1]Telecom Plus sells its 20% interest in Opus Energy to Drax Group.
- 2010
Andrew Lindsay becomes chief executive
[1]Lindsay is promoted to chief executive officer in July.
- 2009
Andrew Lindsay becomes chief operating officer
[1]Andrew Lindsay assumes the chief operating officer role.
- 1997
Smart Box launches
[1]Telecom Plus introduces a least-cost call-routing device designed to route calls through lower-cost alternative networks.
- 1996
Telecom Plus is founded
[1]The company is established in the United Kingdom as a telecommunications business.
Products and positioning
A UK multi-utility and communications provider positioned around bundling several household services under Utility Warehouse, supported by recurring customer relationships and a self-employed Partner distribution network.
Multi-utility consumer services
Utility Warehouse
Telecom Plus's principal consumer-facing brand bundles household services including gas, electricity, landline telephony, broadband, mobile connectivity and home insurance. Its proposition is based on consolidating several recurring services with one provider. Utility Warehouse also offers a prepaid payment card linked to cashback credits against qualifying bills, with the card operated through Mastercard and issued by PSI-Pay Ltd.
Mobile telecommunications
Utility Warehouse mobile
A consumer mobile virtual network operator service marketed by Utility Warehouse. It uses the EE network rather than Telecom Plus operating its own mobile radio network, allowing the group to add mobile connectivity to its wider household-services bundle.
Mobile telecommunications
1pMobile
A consumer mobile virtual network operator operated through Telecoms Management Limited. It forms part of Telecom Plus's telecommunications portfolio alongside Utility Warehouse's bundled mobile offering.
Call-routing telecommunications equipment · 1997
Smart Box
Telecom Plus's first reported product, launched in 1997. The device plugged into a telephone socket and selected alternative networks for calls in an effort to reduce charges compared with British Telecom.
Brand decisions
2025
Reported interest in an OVO Energy stakeM&ABackground
Telecom Plus was reported to be seeking a stake in UK energy provider OVO Energy.
Action taken
The company was reported to be competing to take an ownership stake, but the available material does not confirm a completed transaction.
Aftermath
No completed acquisition or investment can be recorded from the supplied material.
2017
Sale of the Opus Energy holdingM&ABackground
Telecom Plus held a 20% interest in Opus Energy.
Action taken
The company sold its stake to Drax Group.
Aftermath
Telecom Plus no longer held that reported minority interest and continued focusing on its own multi-utility operations.
1997
Launch of the Smart BoxProduct launchBackground
Telecom Plus began as a telecommunications company seeking to reduce the cost of fixed-line calls.
Action taken
It introduced a plug-in least-cost call-routing device that directed calls through alternative networks.
Aftermath
The product established the company's early telecommunications proposition; later operations expanded into bundled utilities and communications.
Recent events
- 2026
Telecom Plus reports expansion in customers, services and Partners[1]
Other
The company reported more than 1.43 million customers, approximately 3.8 million services and over 77,000 Partners in June 2026.
- 2025
Telecom Plus reportedly considers a stake in OVO Energy[1]
M&A
In December 2025, reports said Telecom Plus was competing to take a stake in UK energy provider OVO Energy. The available material does not confirm that a transaction was completed.
- 2023
Telecom Plus reports more than 949,000 customers[1]
Other
The company was reported to have exceeded 949,000 customers in October 2023.
- 2017
Telecom Plus sells Opus Energy stake to Drax[1]
M&A
Telecom Plus sold its 20% interest in Opus Energy to Drax Group.
Sources1 sources
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