Highlighting best practice across the sector

Welcome to our preview of all of the shortlisted entries for this year’s Utility Week Awards.

In these pages you will find a description of each finalist across 24 categories. There were countless other fantastic projects, teams and individuals who we just couldn’t find space for, such was the standard of submissions this year. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit an entry and congratulate everyone shortlisted.

What struck me reading through the entries was the wide range of challenges facing utilities and how innovation is constantly finding new ways to address them. Whether it is supporting vulnerable customers, turbo-charging capital delivery or embedding digitalisation across the sector, these entries show genuine progress being made.

This year we have introduced new categories reflecting the shifting demands being placed on utilities. Overleaf you can read about the work being done in areas as varied as energy flexibility, environmental stewardship, deployment of artificial intelligence and social value.

I’m also pleased we have been able to offer even more opportunities for the next generation of utilities to shine, with our Rising Star category split into energy, water and the supply chain. Meanwhile, we’ve recognised that while it’s important to celebrate innovation at a pilot stage, there is also a need to see it rolled out into business-as-usual. So, we have split the category accordingly.

We received a record number of entries this year and it would have been impossible to whittle those down to this stellar list of finalists without the hard work and insight of our judges. I would like to thank them for their time and effort in helping us pull together a shortlist that highlights the best of the best. Thank you also to our sponsors for their ongoing support of these awards.

I look forward to revealing the winners across all of these 18 categories at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on 1 December and hope to see you there.

Congratulations again to our finalists, and good luck!

James Wallin, editor-in-chief, Utility Week