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Uniquely in the energy industry, Calor can point to a 70 year long presence as part of the British countryside. The company was established in 1935 precisely to meet the energy needs of customers in rural areas– and this focus has remained central to the business ever since.

Calor continues to use its presence in, and understanding of, rural communities to identify and develop an ever increasing range of applications for LPG.

As well as heating thousands of rural homes, Calor LPG is used widely in agriculture, horticulture
and rural business, playing a key part in reducing environmental impact and enabling rural businesses to diversify. Our fuel is used in crop drying, potato desiccation, weed burning and livestock rearing. It provides a cleaner, convenient fuel that reduces chemical use and provides safe storage of fuel.

Calor has enabled farmers to diversify and remain as vital businesses in the countryside – from a Herefordshire potato farmer producing his own gourmet potato chips, to Europe’s most northerly garlic farm, in Scotland, numerous examples are on our web site, www.calor.co.uk.

In addition, Calor plays an active part in generating funding for rural projects. Working with the Plunkett Foundation, Calor supports Rural Revival, which aims to provide help for rural community projects and sustain viable communities. Further information is available at www.ruralrevival.org.uk.

Building Business in Cumbria

Through its long term relationships with, and understanding of, rural businesses in Cumbria, Calor identified that a major hurdle for many farmers wishing to diversify, is their need to acquire new skills or qualifications in order to deal directly with the public.

Calor works with farmers in Cumbria to provide the necessary skills. For example, the company operates an ongoing programme of modular training courses on food hygiene, with farmers achieving a food hygiene certificate.

One successful applicant is Cath Packham, owner of Cath’s Country Kitchen, who now operates a highly successful outside catering business from her farmhouse in Cumbria. ‘We’ve been a long standing farming customer of Calor but wanted to diversify into catering, using locally sourced produce wherever possible,’ she says.‘Calor’s local team organised training courses so we could gain the right qualifications and advice. Now we’re seeing great success providing hog roasts, barbecues and chocolate fondue fountains for occasions in village halls and wedding marquees, as well as farmers’ markets and other rural events.’