These were just two of the questions posed by three university students at a session pitched as ‘Gen Z vs the Board’, hosted by Hotelplan UK, parent company of Inghams, Explore Worldwide, Inntravel and Santa’s Lapland.

As part of a sustainability-focused work experience placement, students Katharina, Beth and Elliott sat down with fellow ‘Gen Z’ members of the existing Hotelplan UK team to debate where the group is making great progress – and where there are still improvements to be made.

This was followed by an open forum at which the students posed questions to a panel comprised of Hotelplan UK CEO Joe Ponte, CFO Colin Parselle, IT director Craig Randell, HR director Nicky Lyle, sustainability director Prue Stone and Explore’s marketing director Jae Hopkins. Around 100 Hotelplan UK team members attended the session virtually and in person to see how the group’s People – Planet – Profit strategy would stand up to the scrutiny of its next generation of potential colleagues or customers.

Hotelplan UK sustainability director Prue Stone said: “Young people can bring inventive and inspiring solutions to the table, provided they’re given a seat there. We challenged our work experience students to unpick if we’re doing as much as we can to protect all our futures; and when given free reign to question our senior leadership, they were not afraid to raise tricky issues. This wasn’t a teaching exercise – it was an exchange of ideas; and it gave us valuable insight into the topics that matter most to them.”

These are some extracted questions and answers between ‘Gen Z’ and the Hotelplan UK leadership:

Gen Z: Can the experience of travel be justified against its environmental impacts?

Joe Ponte: Ending the travel industry isn’t realistic. It’s human nature to travel and explore, so people will always travel, whether they book it with us or someone else. I see it as our responsibility – not the traveller’s – to ensure people are travelling as responsibly as they can and we’re always pushing for better options. I’ll be happy when customers book with us and accidentally end up travelling more sustainably than they might have with a competitor because of decisions we’ve made.

Gen Z: Do you think staff here know about diversity, equality and inclusion – what it is and why it’s important?

Nicky Lyle: Would everyone accurately describe all the acronyms? Probably not. But does everyone show up with the right intention and attitude to learn? Yes, they do – and that’s something I’m very proud of within our culture. Of course there is a lot more to do, both with internal training and through our recruitment processes. This is a topic that will never close. We should never get to a point where we consider ‘that’s done’.

Gen Z: Are you moving fast enough for future generations, considering how much technology is part of their everyday lives?

Craig Randell: As the IT director, I will always say we’re not doing enough or spending enough on technology. But the reality is that with anything digital, you need to start with solid foundations, or everything will come crashing down. We’re focused on upskilling the team and becoming more agile to new opportunities. I would love to bring in a load of youngsters to look at what we can change from a technological perspective because I know they will throw ideas at us.

Gen Z: How far would you take sustainability in an industry that’s not necessarily very sustainable?

Colin Parselle: We’re pushing ourselves fairly hard at the minute. We are a small player within the industry, but if we can demonstrate the positive things we’re doing – things that are making a real difference to our business – that can encourage other people to make the same changes, which creates a far bigger impact that just what we can achieve alone.

Jae Hopkins: We’ve actively shared methodology with competitors on how we carbon rate trips, and we put out documents such as our ethical marketing guidelines publicly for other companies to use. When we have developments that make us better as a business, sharing them is really key, because if we can all be more ethical, it’s better for everyone.

Gen Z vs The Board was the culmination of a week-long work experience programme based at Hotelplan UK’s headquarters in Farnborough. The three students, from different universities studying different subjects connected to sustainability, spent time with the group’s sustainability leads as well as other functions within the group to gain broad perspectives into what it means to be a purpose-led business.

During the forum, one of the students remarked “Every single person we’ve spoken to is so interested in sustainability and [its connection to] people and places. Sometimes I’ve forgotten this is a travel company and not a sustainability consultancy”.

Another student fed back: “I could have never imagined it to be as good as it was and I learned so much about sustainability and generally how businesses operate. I’ve also found that I’ve never thought about my personal impact on the environment as much as I have this week.”

Hotelplan UK CEO Joe Ponte said: “These young people are passionate about building a better world. They completely grasp both the benefits and the destructive potential of tourism; and challenged us with great confidence on how we tip the balance towards positive impact. Listening to what they care about – making tourism more inclusive and accessible, for instance – is a reality check on the expectations of our future customer base; and they definitely gave me food for thought.”

Next month, some of Hotelplan UK’s Inntravel team in Yorkshire will participate in the Speakers for Schools initiative, giving local high school students insights into different careers with a sustainability theme.

To learn more about Hotelplan UK’s approach to sustainability, visit www.hotelplan.co.uk/sustainability.

Egg’s 7kW fast home EV chargers, available in both tethered and untethered versions, are now listed alongside options from the RAC’s existing charger partner, British Gas, and are available to purchase through an interest-free monthly payment plan or via an upfront payment.

Drivers purchasing an Egg home EV charger through rac.co.uk will also receive a £35 Amazon.co.uk gift card.

Ross Mabon, Chief Commercial Officer at Egg, said: “It is a privilege for Egg to be working with the RAC, an iconic UK driving services brand and one that is a force behind the electrification of motoring. We feel confident that by working together, we will succeed in helping many more drivers enjoy the benefits that come from switching to electric vehicles and other connected clean energy solutions like solar and home battery storage.”

Mark Adcock, head of brand licensing at the RAC, said: “We’re excited to begin this partnership with Egg and are pleased to expand our EV home charger options for our members and drivers generally. What’s more, the flexibility to pay for an Egg charger in convenient monthly instalments, as an alternative to paying one upfront sum, is a valuable benefit to anyone ‘going electric’, especially during the current financial climate.” 

Egg’s EV chargers are available through the RAC website at this link:

Electric Car Charging Points | Home Charging Points | RAC

The typical range for a fully-charged EV varies from 100 to 300 miles, depending on the make and model of the vehicle. Factoring in a contingency mileage for peace of mind in case of detours or higher-than-normal battery usage (if the air conditioning is on or the car is heavily loaded, for instance), the following journeys should be comfortably completed by EVs with appropriate ranges:

From London:

• Southend-on-Sea – Enjoy a traditional day out at the seaside, complete with fish and chips and coin-shuffling fun in the arcades. Return trip: 84 miles

• Brighton – Arts, entertainment and culture overtake the city during May as the Brighton Festival (6 – 28 May) and the Brighton Fringe (5 May – 4 June) overlap. Return trip: 130 miles 

• The New Forest – Watch the forest come to life in spring, with wild flowers, wild horses and wild landscapes at every turn. Return trip: 186 miles

From Cardiff:

• Bannau Brycheiniog – Visit the renamed Brecon Beacons and conquer Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales. Return trip: 68 miles 
• Rhossili Bay – Whether picnicking, walking or braving the water for a surf, the Gower Peninsula is the ideal destination over a bank holiday weekend. Return trip: 140 miles
• Stratford-upon-Avon – Take the scenic route to Shakespeare’s birthplace, driving through popular Cotswolds spots including Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. Return trip: 230 miles

From Edinburgh:

• Stirling – Delve into history in Scotland’s former capital, home to the National Wallace Memorial. Return trip: 74 miles

• Isle of Arran – Take the car ferry and leave the mainland behind to explore the geographical wonders of Arran. Return trip: 210 miles

• Kingussie – Park the EV up and find yourself within walking distance of fantastic golf and world-class whisky distilleries. Return trip: 232 miles 

From Leeds (Egg’s HQ):

• • The Peak District – Discover the UK’s oldest national park, which has been used as a backdrop for many film productions as well as the real-life practice area for the famous Dambusters. Return trip: 94 miles

• Liverpool – Soak up the excitement as Liverpool comes alive for the Eurovision Song Contest. Return trip: 150 miles

• Alton Towers – Take the family for an unforgettable adventure to one of the UK’s most popular theme parks. Return trip: 182 miles

For more road trip suggestions from other UK cities including Coventry, Southampton, Norwich, Exeter, Inverness and Llandudno head to: https://crackingenergy.com/blog/ev/guides/how-far-can-an-ev-travel-on-a-single-charge

Egg’s home EV chargers mean that motorists can plug in overnight and be ready to hit the road in the morning with a full charge and no need for a refuelling stop.

“We’re putting the brakes on range anxiety by showing motorists their favourite destinations are highly accessible with an EV,” said Ross Mabon, Chief Operating Officer at Egg. “For those who are able, charging at home is the most affordable and convenient option; and there’s added peace of mind to planning a journey that doesn’t require public charging along the way.” 

Egg’s fast home charger is compatible with all EVs, with installation and full aftercare – including a repair-or-replace promise – included in the price. Prices start from just £27.50 per month over a three-year period, or £990 for upfront purchase with the same inclusions. For full terms and conditions, see www.crackingenergy.com/charging.

The typical range for a fully-charged EV varies from 100 to 300 miles, depending on the make and model of the vehicle. Factoring in a contingency mileage for peace of mind in case of detours or higher-than-normal battery usage (if the air conditioning is on or the car is heavily loaded, for instance), the following journeys should be comfortably completed by EVs with appropriate ranges:

From London:

• Southend-on-Sea – Enjoy a traditional day out at the seaside, complete with fish and chips and coin-shuffling fun in the arcades. Return trip: 84 miles

• Brighton – Arts, entertainment and culture overtake the city during May as the Brighton Festival (6 – 28 May) and the Brighton Fringe (5 May – 4 June) overlap. Return trip: 130 miles 

• The New Forest – Watch the forest come to life in spring, with wild flowers, wild horses and wild landscapes at every turn. Return trip: 186 miles

From Cardiff:

• Bannau Brycheiniog – Visit the renamed Brecon Beacons and conquer Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales. Return trip: 68 miles 
• Rhossili Bay – Whether picnicking, walking or braving the water for a surf, the Gower Peninsula is the ideal destination over a bank holiday weekend. Return trip: 140 miles
• Stratford-upon-Avon – Take the scenic route to Shakespeare’s birthplace, driving through popular Cotswolds spots including Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. Return trip: 230 miles

From Edinburgh:

• Stirling – Delve into history in Scotland’s former capital, home to the National Wallace Memorial. Return trip: 74 miles

• Isle of Arran – Take the car ferry and leave the mainland behind to explore the geographical wonders of Arran. Return trip: 210 miles

• Kingussie – Park the EV up and find yourself within walking distance of fantastic golf and world-class whisky distilleries. Return trip: 232 miles 

From Leeds (Egg’s HQ):

• • The Peak District – Discover the UK’s oldest national park, which has been used as a backdrop for many film productions as well as the real-life practice area for the famous Dambusters. Return trip: 94 miles

• Liverpool – Soak up the excitement as Liverpool comes alive for the Eurovision Song Contest. Return trip: 150 miles

• Alton Towers – Take the family for an unforgettable adventure to one of the UK’s most popular theme parks. Return trip: 182 miles

For more road trip suggestions from other UK cities including Coventry, Southampton, Norwich, Exeter, Inverness and Llandudno head to: https://crackingenergy.com/blog/ev/guides/how-far-can-an-ev-travel-on-a-single-charge

Egg’s home EV chargers mean that motorists can plug in overnight and be ready to hit the road in the morning with a full charge and no need for a refuelling stop.

“We’re putting the brakes on range anxiety by showing motorists their favourite destinations are highly accessible with an EV,” said Ross Mabon, Chief Operating Officer at Egg. “For those who are able, charging at home is the most affordable and convenient option; and there’s added peace of mind to planning a journey that doesn’t require public charging along the way.” 

Egg’s fast home charger is compatible with all EVs, with installation and full aftercare – including a repair-or-replace promise – included in the price. Prices start from just £27.50 per month over a three-year period, or £990 for upfront purchase with the same inclusions. For full terms and conditions, see www.crackingenergy.com/charging.

This is the first time B&Q (www.diy.com) is offering roof-mounted solar panels; and it has selected Egg (www.crackingenergy.com) as its official solar partner to design and install systems tailored to the needs of individual homeowners. 

B&Q will assess the suitability of customer homes for solar panels as part of its new Energy Saving Service, which advises customers on how they can improve energy efficiency. Customers book an appointment with a B&Q advisor to go through a range of available data from their property, including its age, construction, EPC rating and current energy usage. B&Q will then present a personalised action plan on ways and products to potentially reduce energy usage. Customers keen to pursue solar panel installation will be referred across to Egg to design, deliver and install a bespoke solar solution. 

Egg’s solar experts look at many aspects of a property to design a solution that will deliver an impactful proportion of the household’s energy needs. Factors considered include the property’s location, available roof space, roofing materials and direction of pitch. If homeowners want to utilise solar energy outside of daylight hours, Egg also provides battery storage. Egg manages the full process, from consultation and design, through planning, to installation. 

Julie Agnew, CEO of Egg said: “It is significant and exciting that B&Q – one of the most trusted names in home improvements – is guiding customers through energy saving options, enabling them to create homes that are more sustainable and cost efficient. Egg is thrilled to be partnering with B&Q to remove the complexity around solar panels and make solar energy a viable solution for more homeowners.”

Chris Bargate, Strategy Director at B&S, said: “To make it easier for customers to build an action plan to reduce energy use in their homes, we launched the B&Q Energy Saving Service. The service offers free, personalised guidance to identify what customers need to do and access to products and services to get it done. We’re pleased to have partnered with Egg to offer the installation of solar panels and storage to help enable our customers to power their homes more sustainably.”

Solar solutions from Egg start from £7,740, based on an eight-panel system with a 15-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty. In the summer of 2022, Egg saw enquiries for solar panels rocket as much as 830% year-on-year, as hot weather and forecasts of rising energy costs led to increased interest in harnessing cleaner energy and reducing household bills.  

Egg was launched in February 2022 by Liberty Global Ventures, the investment arm of Liberty Global plc (“Liberty Global”) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK). The launch of Egg follows Liberty Global Ventures’ acquisition of specialist sustainable energy solutions provider The Phoenix Works in 2020. The Phoenix Works was founded in Leeds and has been installing solar panels for domestic and business use since 2010.  

Egg has been awarded the Impact Fifty Award 2023. Impact Fifty recognises 50 companies for their commitment to creating a workplace environment where all employees feel they are making a genuine impact on an important cause. In Egg’s case, judges identified that employee satisfaction was driven by delivering on the brand’s mission of creating a clearer path to clean energy through making green home technology more accessible, affordable and less complex for homeowners. 

Egg’s core products are home chargers for electric vehicles, solar panels and battery storage; and it is the only company operating in this space to be honoured with an Impact Fifty award. Other companies on the list include mental health charity Mind, confectionary brand Tony’s Chocolonely, wellness app Headspace, outdoor brand Patagonia and major global names UNICEF and Google.org. To explore the full list, see www.impactfifty.com. 

“It’s a huge honour to be recognised with an Impact Fifty Award just 12 months after our brand first came to market,” commented Julie Agnew, CEO of Egg. “Egg is a young, agile brand, focused on making it much simpler for people to switch to clean energy. The feedback we receive from customers on the positive difference we make to their lives is something that motivates the whole team and makes working at Egg so rewarding. Egg has ambitious plans for the future and we are just getting started, so being recognised alongside such well-established, well-respected names is a real boost to our business.” 

Hyer.co made the following assessment of Egg when confirming it within the Impact Fifty winners:

Egg is cracking open the energy and climate crisis by providing homes and companies with sustainable and affordable clean energy solutions. Governments, businesses, and individuals are more aware than ever of environmental impacts and are seeking ways to reduce emissions towards Net Zero. Egg is making the transition to clean energy easier by offering and installing solar panels, EV charging stations, and batteries to completely electrify your home and workplace with flexible and simple payment options. With rising fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainty, Egg is positioned to champion innovation and adoption of green energy throughout the UK.

The Impact Fifty website contains further information on Egg, plus video testimonials from key personnel providing further insight into the company’s vision, mission and work culture. To learn more about Egg’s products and capabilities, please visit www.crackingenergy.com. 

This is the second major accolade for Egg in recent months. In October 2022, Egg’s pay-monthly home EV charger won Best New Product or Service (Domestic) at the EVIE Awards (the Electric Vehicle Innovation and Excellence Awards).