AN elite group of sporting superstars have teamed up to get Great Britain energy fit for a new campaign launched today.

Smart Energy GB has assembled an elite squad of athletes to demonstrate that if you don’t have the right equipment for the job, you won’t be as efficient.

Fitness legend Mr Motivator, boxing champion Nicola Adams, who trained in Bradford, British long jump athlete Greg Rutherford, and professional footballer Kelly Smith have teamed up to encourage Brits to help get Britain Energy Fit for the Future by getting a smart meter installed.

With research released today revealing that we are a nation of upgraders, with 43 per cent of us upgrading our phones every two to three years, and almost two thirds (63%) updating our PCs to laptops or tablets, the squad have come together to highlight that the one thing we still need to upgrade is the infrastructure that powers these gadgets - our energy system.

And with modern technology developing at a rapid pace, it seems that Brits are keen to keep up, with the research showing that 71% of us recently upgraded to a flatscreen TV, 51% from a DVD player to a streaming service and 37% from a radio to a smart speaker.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Boxing legend Nicola Adams takes up a different sport in a new campaignBoxing legend Nicola Adams takes up a different sport in a new campaign

Smart appliances are also becoming more popular, with 14% of Brits recently upgrading to a smart fridge/freezer and 16% now owning a smart washing machine.

However, despite regularly upgrading gadgets that are powered by electricity, one area where our appetite to modernise lags behind is the energy system itself.

With over half of Brits hoping for a future powered by reliable, cheap, clean energy (51%) and filled with electric cars (47%) and smart appliances (44%), we need to upgrade our energy system, with smart meters at its heart, to help Britain perform at the top of its game.

With 31% of respondents stating that it is important for them to have the most up-to-date gadgets and electrical devices, and 59% agreeing that it is important that they have the most energy efficient gadgets possible, smart meters should be top of the upgrade to-do list. Yet 66% of us don't even know how old our existing gas and electricity meters are, even though some could be nearing their 40th anniversary.

Mr Motivator said: “I get so much joy empowering people to get up and be more active - this has been my life mission. One important lesson I have learnt is that you need the right mindset and equipment to get to the very top of your game, and that applies just as much to our energy system as to top sports people. “Expecting our outdated energy system to meet Britain’s growing needs is like trying to win a race on a penny farthing or play a grand slam with a wooden racket.

“One thing people can do to help, without even getting off their sofa, is to get a smart meter installed.”

To make sure Britain enjoys a cleaner future, our nation requires a major upgrade to its energy infrastructure. Smart meters, which replace traditional, analogue meters, are the foundation of this more reliable, clean and affordable smart energy system.

They will allow Great Britain to better manage energy use, transition to mass uptake of electric vehicles and to build a greener economy.

Watch Mr Motivator, Nicola Adams, Greg Rutherford and Kelly Smith show why we all need to do our bit to help get Britain Energy Fit for the Future at smartenergygb.org/energy-fit-for-the-future