From divide to delivery
Equipping utilities for an unprecedented infrastructure rollout
Report
Download the report to unlock collaborative delivery.
With UK utilities now operating under the latest price control periods, focus has shifted from regulatory planning to the physical execution of an unprecedented volume of capital programmes.
Our latest research, developed with Utility Week, and informed by surveys and roundtable discussions with 50 senior utility leaders, provides a progress check on capital delivery across the energy and water sectors.
The findings reveal how sector confidence has shifted since last year's report on the deliverability divide. While water companies are growing increasingly buoyant as they move into AMP8, energy networks face mounting regulatory and political headwinds. Our research maps the critical, real-world remedies needed to overcome systemic barriers and ensure successful capital delivery.
of utility organisations currently operate within collaborative supplier relationships, while 16 per cent have adopted full enterprise models.
of utility leaders identify slow or late regulatory decision-making as the most impactful barrier to capital programme delivery.
of utility leaders identify engineering design and planning as the single most critical skills shortage in the sector.
of utility companies are not using AI at all in their capital programmes, despite its potential to automate processes and ease resource pressures.
Accelerating capital delivery across the UK
To successfully deliver this wave of national infrastructure, utility organisations must move past transactional relationships. Our report sets out practical actions across four critical areas:
- Agile regulation: establish upfront, principles-based agreements, simplify funding justification, and adopt more adaptive regulatory mechanisms to accelerate decisions and manage uncertainty
- Collaborative procurement: adopt fit-for-purpose collaborative models that share risk transparently and support lower-tier supplier resilience and visibility
- Cross-industry skills hubs: address talent shortages by establishing collaborative regional training models and pooling resources, rather than competing for the same local recruits
- Pragmatic digitalisation: define what ‘good’ looks like, improve common data standards and interoperability, and target quick-win AI use cases rather than waiting for major IT overhauls.
How we can help
Our teams provide practical guidance to help utilities move from strategy to site. We combine deep sector expertise with outcomes-focused procurement, operating model design, and digital transformation capabilities.
To accelerate capital programme delivery, we help you:
- Navigate complex planning and regulatory frameworks.
- Design and implement resilient operating and alliance delivery models.
- Optimise supply chain relationships and tier 2/3 engagement.
- Implement pragmatic digital twins and AI toolkits.
- Build sustainable, skills-based workforce strategies.
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