Now the new regulatory framework for the DNOs has been agreed and the GDNs have already begun adapting to the changes introduced under RIIO, the energy industry has an opportunity to push the boundaries of our collective innovation ambition.
However, creating an environment where true innovation can thrive remains one of the greatest conundrums facing industry today. Indeed, a recent McKinsey survey found that 84 per cent of global business leaders believe that innovation is critical to their business but only 6 per cent are happy with the way they innovate.
When businesses – and people – face the same challenges it creates opportunities for innovation and collaboration, and this is the tipping point at which groundbreaking changes can emerge.
Through the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), our gas and electricity network partners are raising the bar by agreeing to develop three strategic innovation summits in 2015/16. The themes of each of these events are customer, transmission and street works.
The summits are integral to our vision of driving innovation that contributes to the delivery of the transformational change the sector needs.
A recent Harvard Business Review article suggested that innovation is about inspiring yourself, your colleagues and your customers. Inspiration also has the power to compel others outside our usual circle of influence to innovate. Earlier this month, I was invited by the Foreign Office to visit Brazil where I spoke about the EIC and what it does at a seminar. I met some great people, some of whom were inspired by what the UK gas and electricity industry has created in the EIC to consider setting up a similar organisation in Brazil.
At a more local level, last week I was a judge in the grand final of Northern Gas Networks’ internal “outstanding presenter” competition’.
The winner, a 20-year-old NGN apprentice, gave a truly inspiring presentation about “education innovation”. The speaker left school with no qualifications, but put it to the room that NGN could help and inspire other young people in this situation by reaching out and supporting them to realise their personal aspirations.
For the industry to deliver on its collective innovation ambition, we must recognise that the story may start with the individual. We all have the power to make a difference and to inspire our colleagues and our customers, we just have to take the first step.
Denise Massey, managing director, Energy Innovation Centre