Date Added: 11.12.20

The Consult team were thrilled to be able to virtually attend the UK’s leading utilities exhibition, Utility Week Live Online, this year.

With the conference taking place online due to the pandemic, we were quick to snap up some exhibitor passes for some of our top consultants to reap all the benefits of an annual trade show.

As exhibitors we got a digital booth where visitors could swing by, take a look at what we do and chat to us about their energy and utilities hiring strategies going into the new year.

Geared towards connecting the utilities industry online, Utility Week Live brings together experts from the gas, water & energy spaces for an immersive seminar. Jam packed with panels, case studies, Q & A’s and of course key note speaker sessions, the event is a fantastic way to broaden our knowledge on our beloved utilities sector.

We got to hear from some amazing industry leaders including Howard Perry of Severn Trent Water, Telefonica’s Head of Strategy and Delivery Smart Metering, Rob Hirst and CEO of FIDO, Victoria Edwards.

We learned a lot about what’s in store for the utilities market in 2021, from how to protect a productive workforce and the application of social distancing in operational teams through to utilising technology for resilience. Here are some of our highlights…

Smarter approaches to smart metering

In this eye opening session about the operational challenges around smart metering, we  examined real life examples of smart meter rollouts and a glimpse at some of the exciting technology coming our way. What we found particularly interesting from a recruitment perspective was hearing about the challenges and successes around mobilising large numbers of new starters in smart metering projects.

Technology for resilience

Our reliance on technology since the coronavirus outbreak has never been more pronounced, during this talk we unpacked how tech can be used to maintain our new found resilience to change. Be it the utilisation of drones to enrich your service offering, remote asset management by way of smart grids or harnessing the power of AI to give your energy infrastructure an edge – technology is going to be used in some amazing ways in 2021.

Doing innovation better

Probably one of the most exciting sessions of the show was around how utilities companies can innovate to take their operation further: from being more strategic in supply chain to building a more collaborative working environment. We heard from regulatory bodies, Ofwat and Ofgem, on how against all odds regulation and innovation can work together to result in a better customer experience. We also touched on diversity and equality and how this can be achieved through more creative thinking at board level to allow innovation to take place.

Staying connected

Last but not least, we had to give this seminar a mention because nothing is more important right now than keeping that sense of togetherness for displaced teams. The utilities market is under strain to keep the country running but is equally expected to protect and maintain their own teams. Together we examined how operational efficiency, improved gas safety and increased productivity can be achieved remotely using the cloud – additionally, IoT looks like it’s being utilised more for social distancing and is set to continue into next year.

It’s a real privilege to be able to spend time at events like these, virtual or in the flesh. Not only so we can gain some insight into what’s coming up in our industry but also so we can only offer the most up to date hiring advice to our clients and candidates.