Engage Consulting’s Two-Decade Journey with Energy UK – How a shared vision for the UK’s energy future has shaped an enduring collaboration.
In April 2025, as Engage Consulting celebrated our 25th year in business, we became an Associate Member of Energy UK. As a trade association, Energy UK is the “voice of the energy industry” representing companies investing billions of pounds to secure our country’s current and future energy needs. As the sector’s largest trade association, Energy UK represents the diverse nature of the UK’s energy industry, with members delivering nearly 80% of the UK’s power generation and over 95% of the energy supply for the 28 million UK homes and many businesses. Our membership of Energy UK reflects the strength of a partnership that has been instrumental in shaping the UK energy sector for over two decades, working alongside an organisation whose vision aligns closely with our own: a sustainable energy sector delivering excellent services whilst powering towards Net Zero.
Engage Consulting has established itself as an independent management consultancy specialising in subject matter expert advisory and project management services. Our extensive sector knowledge and proven track record have enabled clients to navigate complex policy, regulatory and commercial challenges, always with an unwavering focus on achieving Net Zero and ensuring affordable, sustainable energy for all.
The Foundation Built Through Major Industry Delivery
Energy UK’s confidence in Engage can be demonstrated through five major industry-transforming programmes we have led since 2006. These initiatives represent some of the most critical and complex challenges facing the GB energy sector, especially the retail market and consumers, requiring not just our technical expertise but also our ability to navigate sensitive multi-stakeholder relationships and deliver outcomes that benefit the entire industry.
Consumer Switching Programme (2006-2008)
Energy UK selected us to lead the industry-wide initiative that addressed fundamental consumer switching issues. During this foundational two-year programme, our industry expertise helped establish the frameworks that would put consumer choice at the heart of energy markets. This first major collaboration demonstrated our ability to navigate complex market challenges whilst also ensuring consumer interests remained paramount, establishing the confidence that would define our ongoing partnership.
Green Deal & Feed-in Tariff (2010-2012)
Building on our established relationship, Energy UK commissioned Engage to lead the programmes implementing the schemes that would reshape the UK’s approach toward energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. Our proven industry expertise was essential in navigating the complexities of introducing these key mechanisms, which would encourage both domestic energy efficiency improvements and small-scale renewable energy deployment across the nation.
Smart Metering Implementation Programme (2010-2022)
The scale and complexity of the Smart Metering programme represented one of the most ambitious technological transformations in GB energy history. Energy UK’s decision to ask Engage to lead the Energy UK programme of work from inception to go-live reflects exceptional confidence in our capabilities. Our involvement spanned every critical aspect:
- Smart Metering Policy: Selected to help shape the strategic framework that would guide the national rollout
- Smart Metering Regulatory Framework: Engaged to develop the regulatory structures needed to support this technological transformation
- Smart Metering Requirements: Defining the technical and operational standards for nationwide implementation
- Smart Metering Implementation: Ensuring practical delivery of this ambitious infrastructure programme affecting millions of consumers
This extensive engagement showcased our ability to operate collaboratively with Government and key industry stakeholders across policy development, regulatory design, and practical implementation, reinforcing the confidence that would see us return for future transformational programmes.
Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Design Advisory Group (2021-2024)
The decision to select Engage for one of the most significant market reforms in recent history demonstrated the enduring confidence in our capabilities. Representing large suppliers in the MHHS Design Advisory Group, we leveraged decades of accumulated industry knowledge to inform this project.
- Design Review: Selected to support the review of the MHHS design and evaluate change requests to ensure robust, practical solutions
- Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitating dialogue across the industry to build understanding and consensus
- Consensus Building: Securing agreed positions that balanced the diverse needs of market participants whilst maintaining industry cohesion
- Central Programme Liaison: Representing supplier perspectives directly with the central programme team
This programme reinforced our reputation as a reliable intermediary capable of representing specific interests whilst maintaining our commitment to solutions that benefit the entire industry and consumers.
Radio Tele-switching (RTS) Taskforce (2022 – ongoing)
Energy UK’s confidence in Engage extends to one of the most challenging consumer protection issues facing the industry today. The RTS Taskforce addresses the complex transition away from legacy radio tele-switching technology, with our ongoing involvement, leadership and expertise focused on protecting consumers throughout this critical transition by supporting Energy UK and its members:
- Service Shutdown Strategy and Timing: Developing comprehensive approaches to ensure consumers are protected during the technology transition
- Industry and Consumer Group Engagement: Working directly with industry and affected consumer and their representatives to minimise disruption and ensure clear communication
- Resolving Technology Barriers: Identifying and addressing technical challenges that could impact the smooth transition to alternative solutions
This programme exemplifies both Energy UK’s continued confidence in our expertise and our unwavering commitment to ensuring that even the most complex technical transitions prioritise consumers and practical outcomes.
These five major programmes, spanning consumer markets, green energy policy, technological transformation, market modernisation, and consumer protection, demonstrate not just the breadth of our expertise but the exceptional confidence Energy UK has placed in Engage to deliver on the industry’s most critical challenges.
Delivering Training on Energy UK’s Behalf
For the past three years, we have been delivering specialist training on behalf of Energy UK, providing comprehensive education on Energy Market Arrangements to industry participants. This training covers:
- Market Players: Delivering a comprehensive understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different participants in the UK energy market
- Investors: Offering insights into investment dynamics and decision-making processes within the energy sector
- Interested Parties: Ensuring broader stakeholder perspectives are understood and integrated into market considerations
This ongoing engagement demonstrates our commitment to knowledge sharing and industry development, extending our impact beyond individual programmes to support the broader industry’s understanding of complex market dynamics.
Championing Innovation Through Lightning Bolt Talks Sponsorship
Our support for Energy UK’s Lightning Bolt Talks series illustrates our commitment to fostering innovation within the energy sector. Now, in our third year of sponsorship, since supporting the first Energy UK pilot event, we have consistently championed these events as platforms for exploring data-driven solutions and emerging technologies that support consumers and the energy transition.
Working closely with Energy UK, we collaborate to curate these essential industry discussions, ensuring each event delivers maximum value to attendees. Our partnership extends beyond financial support; we actively contribute to speaker selection, topic development, and event planning to create meaningful networking opportunities for energy professionals.
The Lightning Bolt Talks have become synonymous with cutting-edge discussions on leveraging data to improve energy management, enhance consumer support, and accelerate progress towards Net Zero goals. Through our ongoing collaboration with Energy UK, we recognise the vital importance of these conversations in shaping the industry’s future.
Supporting Future Leaders and Industry Events
Our commitment to the energy sector extends to nurturing its next generation of leaders and supporting key industry gatherings. Through our sponsorship of the Young Energy Professionals (YEP) Awards, we have supported the recognition and development of emerging talent. This year, Engage CEO Matthew Johnson will serve as a Judge for the YEP Awards, further demonstrating our investment in the sector’s future.
Our partnership with Energy UK spans multiple initiatives, including sponsorship of their Annual Conference and, previously, their Annual Lunch. We recognise these events as crucial forums for industry dialogue, policy development, and strategic planning, areas where Engage’s expertise adds significant value.
This breadth of sponsorship activity reflects our belief that supporting diverse industry platforms strengthens the entire energy ecosystem, from emerging professionals to senior leaders driving sector transformation.
Looking Forward
Our partnership with Energy UK continues to be driven by shared values and a commitment to supporting the industry through the transition to Net Zero, which has defined our relationship for nearly two decades. We remain focused on ensuring consumers are at the forefront of this journey. Our journey with Energy UK demonstrates that meaningful collaborative partnerships are built on consistent delivery, proven expertise, and mutual confidence. As the UK energy sector faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities in its transition to Net Zero, our collaboration will continue to play a vital role in shaping solutions that benefit both industry and consumers.
Engage CEO Matthew Johnson reflects: ” This milestone in our Energy UK partnership reflects two decades of successful collaboration on the industry’s most critical programmes. As we face the unprecedented challenges of energy transition, our combined expertise and shared values will continue driving meaningful change for consumers and the sector.”
The confidence built through successful collaboration on the industry’s most complex challenges provides the foundation for even greater achievements ahead.
