Glasgow 2014 has stepped up its commercial plans for its staging of the Commonwealth Games by naming leading electricity and gas company SSE as its second Tier One partner.

SSE becomes the official energy partner of Glasgow 2014 and the first UK-based company to join the event’s top tier of commercial backers. Headquartered in Scotland, SSE is the leading generator of renewable energy in the UK and the second biggest energy retailer. The company supplies electricity and gas to more than 9.5 million household and business accounts under brands such as SSE, Scottish Hydro, Southern Electric, SWALEC and Airtricity.

SSE’s addition to Glasgow 2014’s sponsorship portfolio comes on the back of Swiss watch brand Longines signing up as the inaugural Tier One sponsor last month. Glasgow 2014 chief executive, David Grevemberg, said: “Glasgow 2014 is excited to be working in partnership with such a highly-regarded energy company, headquartered in Scotland and with a presence in every community of the UK. We look forward to collaborating with SSE, its customers and staff throughout the UK in developing exciting engagement and activation opportunities that bring our partnership to life and offer the experience of the Commonwealth Games to as many people as possible.”

Ian Marchant, chief executive of SSE, added: “SSE has customers and employees in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and we are really looking forward to helping make these Games come alive for them and their communities. At SSE we take our work very seriously but try not to take ourselves too seriously and we’re aiming to make this sponsorship innovative and quirky, not boring and corporate. We’re already involved in sport in local communities through sponsorships of shinty, golf, cricket, football, sailing and rugby so we’re excited about the possibilities that lie ahead between SSE and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.”