Dale Vince

Vince was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, the second of three children to parents who ran a Fenland haulage firm. Leaving school at 15, he spent time as a New Age traveller.{{cite book|author=Andrew Davidson|title=1000 CEOs|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780756641702|url-access=registration|date=3 August 2009|publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited|isbn=978-1-4053-3467-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780756641702/page/383 383]–}}{{cite web |last=Grover |first=Sami |url=https://www.treehugger.com/how-an-off-grid-hippie-built-a-wind-energy-empire-4859849 |title=How an 'Off-Grid' Hippie Built a Wind Energy Empire |work=Treehugger |date=5 September 2013 |access-date=28 February 2024}}

When RAF Molesworth was chosen to become a base for the US Air Force's mobile nuclear armed Ground Launched Cruise Missile in 1980, Vince occupied the nuclear base in protest. And he was one of the new-age travellers at the Battle of the Beanfield at Stonehenge in the mid-1980s.

In 1991, he saw his first windfarm ("I thought, either I can carry on by myself with the windmill on my van, or I can get into the big stuff"{{cite web |last=Arnott |first=Sarah |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/dale-vince-tilting-at-windmills-how-to-turn-the-uk-green-2257801.html |title=Dale Vince: Tilting at windmills: how to turn the UK green |work=The Independent |date=31 March 2011 |access-date=28 February 2024}}) and, in 1995, he founded the Renewable Energy Company. In 1996, he launched his first wind turbine supplying "green electricity".{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/10/ecotricity-gives-250000-to-labour-amid-existential-threat-from-tories |title=Ecotricity gives £250,000 to Labour amid 'existential threat' from Tories |work=The Guardian |date=10 February 2015 |access-date=13 March 2015 |author=Rankin, Jennifer}}

In October 2020, The Guardian reported that he plans to create artificial diamonds by chemical vapor deposition using "carbon dioxide captured directly from the atmosphere to form the diamonds – which are chemically identical to diamonds mined from the earth – using wind and solar electricity, with water collected from rainfall."{{cite news |last1=Ambrose |first1=Jillian |title=Ecotricity founder to grow diamonds 'made entirely from the sky' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/30/ecotricity-founder-to-grow-diamonds-made-entirely-from-the-sky |access-date=31 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=30 October 2020}}

In April 2022, Vince announced he planned to sell Ecotricity and go into politics. He said part of the reason was that a new owner "can achieve even more, faster. We've got a massive pipeline of projects that need to be built requiring £2 billion of investment." As well as developing his interest in politics, he would focus on renewable projects such as tidal lagoons and geothermal energy.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/ecotricity-founder-dale-vince-to-sell-company-and-go-into-politics-l20skbkmp |title=Ecotricity founder Dale Vince to sell company and go into politics |last1=Walsh |first1=Dominic |last2=Humphries |first2=Will |newspaper=The Times |location=London |url-access=subscription |date=1 April 2022 |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220401080606/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ecotricity-founder-dale-vince-to-sell-company-and-go-into-politics-l20skbkmp |archive-date=2022-04-01 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/dale-vince-ecotricity-shock-wasnt-6893289 |title=Dale Vince and that Ecotricity shock that wasn't an April Fool |last=Hughes |first=Janet |website=Gloucestershire Live |publisher=Reach |date=1 April 2022 |access-date=6 June 2022}}

File:Visiting Forest Green Rovers Football Club (49200661712).jpg and Vince at Forest Green Rovers Football Club in December 2019]]

In 2010, Vince became a major shareholder of Forest Green Rovers FC,{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/WIND-CHANGE/article-2505974-detail/article.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914085703/http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/WIND-CHANGE/article-2505974-detail/article.html |archive-date=14 September 2012 |title=ENERGY firm Ecotricity will today confirm they are joining forces with Forest Green Rovers |publisher=This is Gloucestershire |access-date=10 August 2010}} and three months later was appointed club chairman.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/forest_green_rovers/9076305.stm |title=Dale Vince becomes Forest Green chairman |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 October 2010}} In February 2011, Rovers players were banned from eating red meat for health reasons,{{clarify|date=July 2023}} and a few weeks later the sale of all red meat products was banned at the club's ground, leaving only vegetarian options and free-range poultry and fish from sustainable stocks.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-12416671|title=Burger ban begins at Forest Green Rovers football club|date=10 February 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=11 February 2011}}

Vince introduced a number of different eco-friendly developments at the club including the installation of solar panels{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-16022775 |title=Forest Green Rovers football club installs solar panels |publisher=BBC News |date=4 December 2011}} on its New Lawn home ground, the use of a solar-powered robot grass mower,{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-17791690 |title=Robot lawn mower used by Forest Green Rovers football club |publisher=BBC News |date=21 April 2012}} and the creation of the world's first organic football pitch.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-13776435 |title=Forest Green Rovers spread manure on football pitch |publisher=BBC News |date=15 June 2011}} In September 2015, Vince revealed Forest Green were using a player recruitment method similar to the 'Moneyball' model that had been initially used in baseball to sign players by using computer-generated analysis.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34186514 |title=Dale Vince: Forest Green Rovers using 'Moneyball' model |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 September 2015 |access-date=9 September 2015}} In October 2015, Forest Green became the world's first all vegan football club.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-34680213 |title=Football club goes vegan in world first |publisher=BBC News |date=31 October 2015}}{{Cite web |last=Corless |first=Liam |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/forest-green-top-league-after-6787336 |title=Forest Green top of the league after becoming 'world's first' football club to go entirely vegan |publisher=Mirror Online |date=7 November 2015}}

In 2021, the team became the first in the world to play in a football kit made from a composite material consisting of recycled plastic and coffee grounds.{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Rowan |title=Soy of the Rovers: the vegan football club kickstarting a green revolution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/28/soy-of-the-rovers-the-vegan-football-club-kickstarting-a-green-revolution |date=28 March 2021 |work=The Observer |issn=0029-7712 |access-date=28 March 2021}}

The United Nations has recognised Forest Green Rovers as the world's first carbon-neutral football club and it was described by FIFA as the "greenest team in the world".{{cite web |title=Forest Green Rovers named 'greenest football club in world' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-45677536 |date=28 September 2018 |website=BBC News Online |access-date=28 March 2021}} In 2024, Forest Green lost their Football League status after suffering two successive relegations.

Vince was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2004 New Year Honours for "services to the Environment and to the Electricity Industry".{{London Gazette |issue=57155 |supp=y |page=13 |date=31 December 2003}}

In 2013, he was given the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Gloucestershire.{{cite web|url=http://recruitment.glos.ac.uk/latestnews/archive/prFrom2013/August2013/Pages/UniversityAnnouncesHonoraryDoctoratesandFellowships.aspx |title=University Announces Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships |publisher=University of Gloucestershire |date=9 August 2013 |access-date=13 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221092113/http://recruitment.glos.ac.uk/latestnews/archive/prFrom2013/August2013/Pages/UniversityAnnouncesHonoraryDoctoratesandFellowships.aspx |archive-date=21 February 2015 |df=dmy}}

Vince is a vegan.

While studying, Vince met and married Kathleen Wyatt, two years his senior and with a child of her own, in 1981. The couple subsequently became New Age travellers together, living off state benefits. They had a son together, Dane, in 1983.{{cite news |last=Orr |first=Deborah |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/13/dale-vince-moved-on-from-child-divorce |title=Dale Vince 'moved on' from caring for his child – that's not what divorce is for |newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 March 2015 |access-date=19 July 2023}} They separated some years later, and Wyatt reportedly raised the couple's son largely alone thereafter. They divorced in 1992.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11463632/Delayed-divorce-battle-Ecotricity-founder-Dale-Vinces-New-Age-traveller-ex-wife-wins-payout.html |title=Delayed divorce battle: Ecotricity founder Dale Vince's New Age traveller ex-wife wins cash fight |last=Bingham |first=John |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 March 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015 |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006151606/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11463632/Delayed-divorce-battle-Ecotricity-founder-Dale-Vinces-New-Age-traveller-ex-wife-wins-payout.html |archive-date=2023-10-06 |url-status=live}}

After Vince had made his fortune, Wyatt, who had lived what was later described in court as "16 years of real hardship", lodged a financial claim of £1.9 million against Vince in 2011, nearly 20 years after their divorce.

The Court of Appeal rejected the claim, stating it had "no real prospect of success" and was an "abuse of process". However, in March 2015 the Supreme Court set aside this decision, ruling that there was no time limit in law for claims for financial provision, and the claim could progress in the High Court. Lord Wilson said the court must have regard "to the contribution of each party to the welfare of the family, including by looking after the home or caring for the family", but the claim only had a prospect of "comparatively modest success" with a £1.9 million payout "out of the question".

In a statement, Vince branded the court's decision as "mad". "I feel that we all have a right to move on, and not be looking over our shoulders. This could signal open season for people who had brief relationships a quarter of a century ago".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-31832392 |title=Woman could win cash payout 20 years after divorce |work=BBC News |date=11 March 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015}} Prior to the case settlement, Vince paid the legal costs for both parties, of over £500,000, as divorce law permits costs to be charged to the combined resources of both parties.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/mar/11/woman-wins-right-seek-money-ex-husband-30-years-after-break-up-dale-vince |title=Woman wins right to seek money from ex-husband 30 years after breakup |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-31849493 |title=Dale Vince divorce ruling 'like cashing in old lottery ticket' |publisher=BBC |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015}}

In 2016, the case was settled when Vince agreed to pay £300,000 to Wyatt. He commented that the case had been "a terrible waste of time and money". He stated the settlement barely covered Wyatt's legal fees which he had already paid prior to the settlement. He then repeated his opinion that he was "...disappointed that the supreme court decided not to throw out the case, given it was brought over 30 years since the relationship ended" before adding, "There clearly needs to be a statute of limitations for divorce cases – a time limit beyond which a claim cannot be made. Such a thing exists in commercial law for good practical reasons."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jun/10/ecotricity-founder-dale-vince-time-limit-divorce-payout-claims |title=Ecotricity founder calls for time limit on divorce payout claims |author=Press Association |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 June 2016 |access-date=5 February 2022}}

Vince married Kate Lane, who worked at Ecotricity, in 2006; they have a son.

They divorced in 2024, and on 20 December 2024, the High Court ordered Dale Vince to pay Kate Vince £43.51 million over three annual instalments in a financial settlement related to his businesses, of which he retained ownership. The combined legal bill was about £6 million. Vince stated he had offered £50 million in settlement earlier, and the rejection of that had resulted in numerous court hearings and acrimony with a smaller settlement. They had separated in 2022, and had previously divided their non-business assets, on a broadly equal basis of about £5 million each.{{Cite web |title=Dale Andrew Vince v Kate Vince |website=The National Archives |id=[2024] EWFC 389 |url=https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewfc/2024/389#para_49 |date=20 December 2024 |access-date=2025-01-24}}

Vince has made donations to both the Labour Party and the Green Party. Prior to the 2015 UK general election, he was one of several 'celebrities' who endorsed the parliamentary candidacy of the Green Party's Caroline Lucas.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/24/celebrities-sign-statement-support-caroline-lucas-not-green-party |title=Celebrities sign statement of support for Caroline Lucas – but not the Greens |work=The Guardian |location=London |first=Jessica |last=Elgot |date=24 April 2015 |access-date=22 July 2015}} He endorsed the Labour Party in the 2019 general election.{{Cite tweet |user=LabourByTheMany |author=Labour: By The Many |number=1202947383971270656 |date=6 December 2019 |title=The South West is rich in solar, wind, marine & geothermal energy. It also has the poorest regions in the UK! Here's @DaleVince owner of @ecotricity on why @UKLabour has his vote to tackle the climate crisis #GreenIndustrialRevolution #ByTheMany}}

He has made donations to various Labour Party MPs, as well as environmental protest groups, such as Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.{{Cite web |last=Coates |first=Sam |title=Westminster Accounts: Labour and Starmer have accepted thousands from major Just Stop Oil donor |url=https://news.sky.com/story/westminster-accounts-labour-and-starmer-have-accepted-thousands-from-major-just-stop-oil-donor-12779224 |access-date=11 January 2023 |website=Sky News |language=en}}

Forest Green raised the Palestinian flag during a match in April 2022 "in solidarity with the Palestinian people". Vince said "Palestine has been under siege by Israel - by air land and sea, for decades. The US allows this, pumps billions into Israel to support its economy and military and uses its veto to block any meaningful action by the UN". He said the West's position in relation to Palestine "stands in stark contradiction to 'our' claims to moral superiority, civilization and democratic values". Vince has been described as "anti-Israel" and "anti-Zionist" by The Jerusalem Post, which wrote that he was using the club "as a means to promote his anti-Israel agenda".{{cite web |last=Spungin |first=Tal |url=https://www.jpost.com/bds-threat/article-705168 |title=Who is Dale Vince, the anti-Zionist owner of the 'world's greenest football club'? |website=The Jerusalem Post |date=26 April 2022 |access-date=2024-10-09}}

On Times Radio, in the immediate aftermath of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Vince stated that "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" when asked about Hamas. Angela Rayner said Vince's remark was "appalling". Vince said his remark was taken from a doctored video clip and that, in the same interview, he had agreed that Hamas were terrorists and Israel had a right to defend itself.{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Patrick |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/dale-vince-diane-abbott-labour-hamas-penny-mordaunt-b2512878.html |title=Labour donor Dale Vince's comments about Hamas were appalling, says Rayner |work=The Independent |date=2024-03-14 |access-date=2024-10-09}} In July 2024, Vince sued ownership of the political blog Guido Fawkes for libel, claiming that the site implied he supported Hamas by circulating a clip of the Times Radio interview that featured only the "freedom fighter" remark with no additional context.{{cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=July 2, 2024 |title=Dale Vince sues Guido Fawkes owner for libel over Hamas claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jul/02/dale-vince-sues-guido-fawkes-owner-over-false-hamas-claims |access-date=January 31, 2025 |work=The Guardian}}

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Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Great Yarmouth

Category:British chief executives in the energy industry

Category:English businesspeople

Category:English football chairmen and investors

Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C.

Category:Green Party of England and Wales people

Category:Labour Party (UK) donors

Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Category:People associated with the University of Gloucestershire

Category:People associated with wind power