The Utilities industry is essential for our population and is recognised as providing the critical infrastructure that supports the whole of the UK. Made up of vital amenities such as gas, water, electricity and telecoms, the sector serves millions of homes and businesses across the economy.
In recent years, the water and wastewater sector has seen huge improvements in drinking water quality, environmental standards and customer service across the industry. Similarily, the electric and energy sector has significantly worked towards achieving a greener, affordable and more sustainable services for customers and businesses.
These improvements have been driven by the ever-increasing challenges industry regulators such as OFWAT and OFGEM, backed by legislation and consumers demanding a much more responsive and improved service.
Some of the main challenges the industry faces are well-known such as reducing leakage and sewer flooding, minimising the number of planned and unplanned supply interruptions and ensuring high-quality customer service. Additionally, the requirement to deliver a greener energy system, reduce environmental impact and improve networks and infrastructure is always top of the agenda for the electric sector. The sector is undergoing substantial transformation to support the move to a lower carbon economy that will involve new infrastructure, systems and innovative ways of working.
These workforce challenges, along with a desire to take advantage of digital innovations to improve efficiencies, leads to an opportunity to implement new technologies. Technology such as field service management.