GRID-UK advisory board meets for the first time

Planning for one of the most influential energy strategy developments in 2026 is underway following the inaugural meeting of the GRID-UK advisory board.

Chaired by former energy minister Greg Hands, the group is seeking to facilitate action to develop a plan to accelerate the pace of the UK energy transition through a series of activities which will focus on delivering extra momentum towards the targets set for Clean Power in 2030 and beyond.

Their work will focus on extending the narrative about why the move to sustainability is vital to communities across the country - socially and economically - and what can be done to realise some of the benefits in the near future.

Greg Hands said:

“It was invigorating to chair the first advisory board meeting of GRID-UK. We have amazing people on our board, from a variety of interested sectors.

I know they will all do a great job in working together to deliver successful outcomes for GRID UK, and help the UK meet its energy infrastructure challenges.”

The GRID-UK advisory board was attended by a broad range of representatives from the energy world including the Energy Industries Council, Energy Networks Association, Energy Systems Catapult, Institution of Civil Engineers, tech UK, Energyzblack, electricity transmission and distribution companies and also attracted observers from government organisations.

Commenting on the move, Ricky Saez, Programme Director, Eastern Link Joint Ventures at SSEN Transmission said:

“If GRID is to have real impact, the people building the infrastructure must shape the agenda — openly, honestly, and without silos.

That means confronting constraints on strategic supplier capacity, planning and regulatory bottlenecks, joint governance that genuinely enables progress, a growing shortage of A-list delivery talent, rising exposure on disaggregated mega-projects and the reality of building at a pace the UK has never attempted.

In my role as an Advisory Board member, I’m looking forward to helping shape GRID into a forum grounded in real delivery experience — and I encourage colleagues across the sector to lean in, challenge thinking, share insight, and help build the clarity our transition demands”.