H/Advisors Cicero has been the retained Government Affairs provider to Wales & West Utilities (WWU) since 2018. We have been tasked with providing insight and analysis on policy matters as well as increasing Wales & West’s profile with Parliamentarians and policymakers. This includes building a clearer understanding of WWU’s importance to Wales and the South West, as well as the importance of gas in the regions’ future energy mix. Support also includes public affairs engagement during potential crisis scenarios, highlighting WWU’s role as the gas emergency service for the region.

Strategy & Execution

Through a regular meeting programme, H/Advisors Cicero has raised Wales & West Utilities’ profile among MPs, Members of the Welsh Parliament and key regulatory stakeholders, highlighting their positive role in the region. This included profiling their thought leadership on the importance of gas in the future energy mix and their involvement in future energy solutions such as hybrid heating systems and hydrogen gas.

We also supported WWU’s corporate strategy by providing regular and timely advice and analysis on relevant Government policy and political change. As a utilities provider, WWU has found itself at the centre of major policy priorities during a time of turbulence in UK politics. H/Advisors Cicero’s advice and analysis is considered invaluable in shaping the future company strategy.

Wales and West Utilities have successfully demonstrated the importance of simultaneously increasing regional and UK-wide policymaker engagement to allow better engagement in local conversations about the future energy mix and sustainability agenda that affect local people.

Tom Wilkins, Director UK Public Affairs

Results

The project was challenging given Wales & West Utilities was not very well-known amongst politicians and regulatory stakeholders. However, the project has demonstrated our ability to raise our client’s profile amongst their key stakeholders as well as allow them to feed into key debates that will define the future energy mix in Wales and the South West.

WWU now holds a profile with MPs and ministers that enables them to engage in constructive conversations that help WWU support its customers during in a complex and ever-changing political and industry landscape.

If you wish to discuss any of the issues mentioned in this article, please contact Tom in H/Advisors Cicero’s UK Public Affairs team on tom.wilkins@h-advisors.global