Our sustainability initiatives
To help our clients achieve their sustainability goals, we have set an example for them and our peers from across the energy industry to follow.
Our sustainability initiatives
To help our clients achieve their sustainability goals, we have set an example for them and our peers from across the energy industry to follow.
Through its Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations has produced a blueprint for organisations to follow to help achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
We have aligned our Sustainability and Social Value Strategy with these goals, so that we are best placed to realise our ambition to be recognised as a leader of sustainable distributed energy solutions and power distribution.
Our initiatives in action
We’re taking action now to power towards a more sustainable future for all. Here are just some of the ways we’re working with our clients to set them on the path to achieving their sustainability goals and beyond.
The transition to net zero requires immediate and collective action. Across industries and sectors, we support our clients on the path to decarbonisation by delivering end-to-end solutions for a brighter, more sustainable future.
We continue to help our clients achieve their net zero ambitions. Here, Steven Muscat, Head of Engineering, highlights the importance of unlocking power networks efficiency in bringing the future of clean energy forward.
Mobilising finance will be key to accelerating net zero targets. As a leading energy partner, we provide our clients with sustainable finance solutions that support their day-to-day operations while delivering on net-zero goals.
Elevating the voice of young people will be key to ensuring net zero targets are delivered across generations. We invest in apprentices and graduates to equip tomorrow’s leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to bring the future of sustainable energy forward.
Meeting net zero targets requires real transformation across the transport sector. Philip Heathcote, Head of Markets, explains the importance of end-to-end electrification in delivering a brighter energy future for individuals, business and wider society.
We provide a strong platform for our women leaders to share their success stories and experiences within the industry, with the hope that today’s careers will inspire a future generation of women engineers and scientists to push the sustainability agenda forward.
Our sustainable development objectives
We have aligned our Sustainability goals with the UN SDGs. We have then developed our own objectives and targets aligned to the objectives and targets that sit under each of the 17 UN SDGs.
Good health and wellbeing
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Our targets
Target 3.4 seeks to promote mental health and wellbeing.
Our good health and wellbeing objectives
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Prioritise and maintain a fit and healthy workforce. We aim to provide support and a programme to improve our employees’ mental and physical health.
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Maintain and enhance employee benefits and promote these to our workforce.
How we are achieving these objectives
Electricity is dangerous, so we need to be sure that our employees are safe and well at work. We have built a safety culture that puts safety above all other considerations. Our safety record speaks for itself. Our vision is to go Beyond Zero and create a team culture focused on safe and positive behaviour.
Our Stay Safe training programme is mandatory for all employees – the foundation of this programme is based on our three safety pillars: risk profile, beyond zero and modelling excellence and covers our four safety currencies: personal risk and perception, alpha state, time vs. risk and habits.
We offer a Mental Health Awareness course delivered by Mental Health First Aid England as part of our company-wide wellbeing initiative WorkingWell.
Quality education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Our targets
Target 4.4 seeks to substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Target 4.5 aims to eliminate gender disparities in education
Our quality education objectives
- Support the development of our staff and ensure the skills of our workforce are maintained and enhanced.
- Provide opportunities for employees to progress in their career path.
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Provide opportunities for graduates to progress their careers.
How we are achieving these objectives
We offer a comprehensive professional development and training programme that is designed to account for everyone regardless of their ambitions, level of education or financial situation.
Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Our targets
Target 5.1 seeks to end all forms of discrimination against women.
Target 5.4 seeks to promote shared domestic responsibilities withinthe household.
Target 5.5 seeks to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels
Our gender equality and reduced inequalities objectives
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Encourage women and minority ethnic groups in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
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Continue reducing the gender pay gap every year.
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Promote diversity and inclusiveness in all areas of our work.
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Develop and maintaining an environment in which differing ideas, abilities, backgrounds and needs are valued, and where those with diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcomed and fully able to participate and contribute.
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Embracing diversity and inclusiveness and actively eliminating discrimination in all of its forms.
How we are achieving these objectives
Diversity and inclusiveness is one of our values that make up the DNA of our business. We recognise and encourage the value difference and constructive challenge can bring.
Our administrative roles generally attract an even balance of men and women. In engineering and technical roles, however, a disproportionate number of men apply. According to the Women’s Engineering Society, women make up 11% of the workforce in engineering/technical roles, so there is a smaller pool available to us. We nevertheless recognise that we need to do more to attract women to these roles.
Under the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulation 2017 we provide an annual report on our Gender Pay Gap. Since the introduction of the Gender Pay Regulations in 2017, we have seen a 14% improvement in our Median Gender Pay Gap.
Affordable and clean energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Our targets
Target 7.2 seeks to increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030.
Target 7.3 seeks to double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.
Our affordable, clean energy and climate action objectives
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We are committed to deliver our ‘Green Action Plan’ to decarbonise and reduce the impact of our operations (more details below).
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Support our clients in the decarbonisation of all their operations including transport and heating.
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Support our clients to develop renewable energy resources.
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Support our clients in their energy efficiency objectives
How we are achieving these objectives
As part of the wider group, we have reduced our carbon footprint by 26% since the baseline year of 2014/15 and ranked first in the UK and Europe and second globally in the Singapore Power Group’s Smart Grid Index – the world’s first index to help utilities measure and advance in key dimensions of grid development including green energy.
Decent work and economic growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full productive employment and decent work for all
Our targets
Target 8.5 seeks to support job creation along with the growth of small and medium size enterprises.
Target 8.8 seeks to promote safe and secure working environments for all employees.
Our decent work and economic growth objectives
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Support the development of the UK economy through partnerships with small and medium enterprises that deliver innovative and cost effective solutions.
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Ensure our employees are provided with the safest possible working environment and that they are able to go home to their families each and every night.
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Ensure our clients, contractors and members of the public go home safe – staying safe applies to everyone we work with.
How we are achieving these objectives
As part of the wider organisation, UK Power Networks Services has been recognised as a great place to work by The Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to Work For over the last five years. We pride ourselves in being an Employer of Choice which is demonstrated through our position as number six in the 2021 Best Big Companies to Work For guide, making us a 3-Star Company.
We have been accredited with an Investors in People Platinum Award which recognises UK Power Networks Services’ commitment to excellence in people management.
We were awarded the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Silver Award.
Industry innovation and infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
Our targets
Target 9.1 seeks to develop sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
Target 9.4 seeks to upgrade infrastructure sustainably.
Target 9.5 seeks to enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies.
Our industry innovation and infrastructure objectives
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Lead decarbonisation of industry and improvements in energy efficiency.
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Ensure our clients can rely on us to address their sustainability concerns
How we are achieving these objectives
Innovation is at our core and we are always looking for opportunities to innovate. We actively participate in innovation projects to improve our expertise and develop sustainable solutions for our clients. We seek innovation opportunities with our clients and look for funding opportunities such as with Innovate UK for projects including Wireless Electric Fleets (WEF) or UPS Smart Electric Urban Logistics.
Sustainable cities and communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Our targets
Target 11.2 of the UN SDGs seeks to provide affordable and sustainable transport systems.
Target 11.6 of the UN SDGs seeks to reduce the environmental impact of cities.
Our sustainability cities and communities objectives
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Lead the electrification of the transport sector through delivering smart, efficient solutions.
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Create job opportunities for young people local people and those from a diverse background by using our apprenticeship scheme and work experience for secondary school students
How we are achieving these objectives
Community energy has an important role to play in the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy and so we partnered with Community Energy England and Community Energy South to conduct a survey to understand more about the needs and aspirations of community groups from industry and future energy networks.
Responsible consumption and production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Our targets
Target 12.2 seeks to achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
Target 12.4 seeks to responsibly manage chemicals and waste.
Target 12.6 seeks to encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and reporting.
Target 12.7 seeks to promote sustainable procurement
Our affordable, clean energy and climate objectives
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We are committed to deliver our ‘Green Action Plan’ to decarbonise and reduce the impact of our operations (more details below).
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Support our clients in the decarbonisation of all their operations including transport and heating.
-
Support our clients to develop renewable energy resources.
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Support our clients in their energy efficiency objectives
How we are achieving these objectives
As part of the wider group, we have reduced our carbon footprint by 26% since the baseline year of 2014/15 and ranked first in the UK and Europe and second globally in the Singapore Power Group’s Smart Grid Index – the world’s first index to help utilities measure and advance in key dimensions of grid development including green energy.
Climate action
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Our targets
Target 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
Our affordable, clean energy and climate objectives
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We are committed to deliver our ‘Green Action Plan’ to decarbonise and reduce the impact of our operations (more details below).
-
Support our clients in the decarbonisation of all their operations including transport and heating.
-
Support our clients to develop renewable energy resources.
-
Support our clients in their energy efficiency objectives.
How we are achieving these objectives
As part of the wider group, we have reduced our carbon footprint by 26% since the baseline year of 2014/15 and ranked first in the UK and Europe and second globally in the Singapore Power Group’s Smart Grid Index – the world’s first index to help utilities measure and advance in key dimensions of grid development including green energy.
Life on land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Our targets
Target 15.1 Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
Our affordable, clean energy and climate objectives
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We are committed to deliver our ‘Green Action Plan’ to decarbonise and reduce the impact of our operations (more details below).
-
Support our clients in the decarbonisation of all their operations including transport and heating.
-
Support our clients to develop renewable energy resources.
-
Support our clients in their energy efficiency objectives.
How we are achieving these objectives
As part of the wider group, we have reduced our carbon footprint by 26% since the baseline year of 2014/15 and ranked first in the UK and Europe and second globally in the Singapore Power Group’s Smart Grid Index – the world’s first index to help utilities measure and advance in key dimensions of grid development including green energy.
Partnership for the goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Our targets
Target 17.6 seeks to share knowledge and co-operate across science, technology and innovation.
Target 17.7 seeks to encourage and promote effective partnerships.
Our partnership for the goals objectives
- Continue to work with industry and academic institutions in the pursuit of innovation projects that will support the global climate change and sustainability agenda.
How we are achieving these objectives
Our dedicated Client Relationship Manager looks after strategic industry partnerships that can be beneficial for all parties involved, but most importantly can deliver better results for the end user.
Environment and sustainability
We are committed to protecting the natural environment and minimising our impact on the locations we operate in.
We recognise our responsibility not only to deliver to the highest standards but also to be environmentally responsible and achieve a positive legacy in the communities where we operate, while being sustainably cost efficient and providing value for money.
Our clients rely on us to provide them with energy solutions that minimise their impact on the environment and help them achieve their ambitions to sustainably reduce their carbon emissions.
Download our Carbon Reduction Plan
Our Sustainability and Social Value Strategy
In response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we have developed our Sustainability and Social Value Strategy in line this blueprint.
We have aligned the SDGs with our vision to be an employer of choice, a respected and trusted corporate citizen and sustainably cost efficient. This statement presents how we are successful in delivering these objectives and our future targets.
UK Power Networks Services Sustainability Awards
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