Team GB Signs Up British Gas

The British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) have announced a new five-year partnership with British Gas.

The deal between the UK energy and home services company and Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic governing bodies will run up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics under a year away, British Gas becomes the new official energy services partner to both organisations, and is set to ‘provide support’ to Team GB.

British Gas has stated that the partnership is set to focus on ‘empowering young people and athletes to make a positive difference for themselves and their local communities.’

This will see the introduction of a new school’s programme, Get Set for Positive Energy, that will aim to reach up to one million young people and families across the UK. The free programme, which Team GB, ParalympicsGB and British Gas will all collaborate on, will look to educate children and communities around saving energy and creating a greener future.

The programme is a follow up to Team GB and ParalympicsGB’s Get Set, which was originally created as the official education programme for London 2012 and offers a broad range of free, cross-curricular resources and activities for schools and community groups across the nation.

To launch the partnership, Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Paralympian Jack Hunter-Spivey, surprised pupils at Katarina’s former primary school in Liverpool, St Mark’s Catholic School, unveiling a mural that aims to highlight the importance of building a more sustainable future.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson, commented, “To be involved in Get Set for Positive Energy and return to my old school to help inspire the next generation is such an honour. The programme enables kids from across the UK to learn more about how we can be more energy efficient, which is naturally essential for a greener future, so I’m delighted to help play a small part by launching the partnership at my primary school, St Mark’s.” 

Andy Anson, Chief Executive of the BOA, added, “It is great for Team GB to be working with a major national brand in British Gas. As well as direct support for our athletes in getting them to the Olympic Games, the full potential of this partnership will be realised through the support for local communities in the UK, as we recognise that we need to work together to help each other on our journey to a more sustainable future.”

Chris O’Shea, Chief Executive of British Gas owner Centrica, said, commented, “Our 20,000 UK team is strong because of its diversity – of skills, experience and identities. We know we need an energised workforce to tackle the energy efficiency challenges all communities are facing as we make the transition to Net Zero.

“Every day our people help deliver solutions that make this journey possible and make a real difference to the local economies of towns and cities nationwide. We’re proud to sponsor two of the UK’s most inspiring teams – Team GB and ParalympicsGB – and if any of the athletes want to join us in the future, we will give them the opportunity to do so.”

British Gas is also developing a ‘Pathways’ programme to support former athletes in transferring their skills to roles within the home energy firm.