Guide
11 Mar 2026
We’re inviting schools to join our next group basket to benefit from the Zen Hybrid purchasing strategy starting in October 2026. Energy markets have been extremely volatile as a result of the Russia/Ukraine and Middle Eastern conflicts, which is why we have designed this product to mitigate the impact. It enables you to lock in a smaller proportion of your volume whilst rates are elevated, whilst aiming to buy the remainder once markets settle.
With the Zen Hybrid flexible strategy, energy is purchased over time – with at least 50% being purchased seasonally in advance (Summer/Winter). The remaining energy is purchased either when markets are more attractive, or being left to the market average price each month (Day Ahead). This allows our trading team to take advantage of prices falling once stability returns to the market.
You delegate us to purchase in advance, where we’ll use our extensive trading expertise to take advantage of year-on-year discounts, buying portions of your energy for the forwards periods while prices are low. It means you can take advantage of favourable prices when the market dips and avoid further energy spikes during market volatility.
With our expert team monitoring the market and driving your purchasing strategy you can rest easy, spreading the risk of volatile market conditions and leveraging optimal prices throughout the duration of your contract."
Alex Payne
Director of Energy Markets & Procurement
With Zen Hybrid, you’ll receive quarterly updates summarising how the basket is performing at a wholesale cost level. You are also able to take advantage of non-commodity costs that are fixed at least annually in advance. These allow you to get a high degree of budget certainty.
When markets are particularly volatile, many clients want to avoid securing all their energy in one go. With the Hybrid strategy we buy energy in advance, in smaller tranches, to take advantage of dips in the market. This spreads the risk and shields you from sudden price spikes that can occur when you purchase all your energy on one day.
Energy markets are unpredictable, but Zen Hybrid reduces your exposure by spreading purchasing across multiple points in time. This proven strategy balances opportunity with protection, lowering the risk of overspending during volatile periods. With access to the Day Ahead market, this often allows cheaper prices to be obtained within month once risk premiums have been removed.
Managing energy procurement can be complex and time-consuming. By joining our basket, you can leave the day-to-day monitoring and trading decisions to our expert team, freeing up your time to focus on running your school.
Zen Hybrid is not just about buying energy. You will also benefit from our wider support, from making sure your contracts start on time, to validating your bills and monitoring your consumption through our Portal. You’ll also access expert sustainability guidance and compliance advice to help with reporting and efficiency projects, ensuring your school gets long-term value as well as short-term savings.
To be included in the October 2026 basket we ask you to register your interest as soon as possible (by 30 April) so that we can assess volume levels. We will be aiming for supply contracts to be signed by 17 July 2026 to enable your sites to be included, but the earlier we can build volume, the more opportunity we will have to take advantage of market prices.
Register your interest by completing the form below. By joining our basket, you’ll access the strategies usually only reserved for larger organisations.
If you are worried about market volatility and don’t want to sign off all your energy spend on one day, this strategy gives you that freedom. Register your interest today.
And if you haven’t already, take a look at our complete energy procurement solutions designed to help your school or MAT achieve energy savings – plus a whole lot more.
