A new coalition of trade associations from across the UK energy landscape has formed around the 2026 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Energy Conference, which is set to take place on 24 June at London’s Queen Elizabeth II Centre and online.
The Energy Institute, Energy Networks Association and Energy UK have been joined by new partners Offshore Energies UK and RenewableUK for this summer’s conference.
The collaboration between leading trade associations demonstrates how EDI remains at the heart of a successful energy industry.
Now in its seventh year, the EDI in Energy Conference brings together CEOs, senior leaders and EDI networks from across the industry to explore how to collectively drive lasting change in the sector and beyond.
The hybrid event will welcome experts and members from across the industry to the fully accessible conference where they will discuss a wide range of cross-cutting issues to make the energy workforce more inclusive. Speakers and panellists will share insights, lived experiences and good practice to ensure everyone’s voices are heard.
Dr Nick Wayth CEng FEI, Chief Executive Officer at The Energy Institute, said:
“Embedding an inclusive company culture within any organisation is now a business imperative if the sector is to ensure it continues to attract and retain the best talent needed to meet the UK’s energy transition and security. The EDI in Energy conference provides the perfect opportunity for people to hear and learn how they can support their workforces to thrive.”
Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive Officer at Energy Networks Association, said:
“Upgrading our grid can unlock the country’s renewable potential, helping deliver cleaner, secure, homegrown energy in the years ahead and this work is generating unmissable opportunities for high quality jobs and apprenticeships in the sector. It is more important than ever for the sector to focus on our approach to EDI challenges, to help ensure we can attract a full range of talent and ensure everyone is confident their voice will be listened to in professional discussions at every level.”
Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive of Energy UK, said:
“As our industry continues its work to bridge the growing skills gap and accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more secure energy system, the need for a truly diverse and inclusive workforce has never been clearer. The strengthened coalition behind the 2026 EDI in Energy Conference demonstrates how organisations across all sectors are coming together with a shared commitment to progress. By working with more partners than ever before, we are sharing our insight, experience and ambition to drive meaningful change and ensure the industry attracts and empowers the widest range of talent.”
Katy Heidenreich, Supply Chain & People Director at OEUK, said:
“If we are to succeed in tackling inclusion, it must be central to how we work. At Offshore Energies UK, we recognise that no single organisation can deliver the change required on its own. Progress happens when industry, networks and leaders come together to share learning, challenge ourselves, and move from intent to action. That is why we are pleased to support the EDI in Energy Conference, helping ensure our integrated energy industry attracts, develops and retains the diverse talent we need for the future.”
RenewableUK’s Executive Director, Commercial, Elizabeth Conboy said:
“This timely conference will provide a great opportunity for us to exchange ideas with other organisations on innovative ways to promote best practices on EDI. This is an extremely important area of policy-making for us, as the number of jobs in the wind industry alone is set to more than double over the next five years. To attract the best people to fill the wide variety of roles we’re offering, we will need as diverse and as inclusive a workforce as possible.”
Alongside a diverse range of panels and speakers, the industry-wide TIDE (Tackling Inclusion and Diversity in Energy) initiative, launched at the 2022 EDI in Energy Conference, will present the results of this year’s Health Index.
Registrations are open now for the cross-sector initiative, which provide firms with the means to understand and anonymously benchmark their EDI initiatives against others in the industry, as well as understand sector-wide challenges and progress.
Attendees will also hear the energy sector results of Energy and Utility Skills 2026 Inclusion Measurement Framework, which tracks the outcomes of EDI practices across a range of characteristics.
Together with the Health Index, these sessions will provide attendees with a clearer picture of the energy industry’s EDI maturity while identifying gaps requiring further attention or support.
Energy companies can sign up to the 2026 Health Index before 6 April: https://www.energyedihub.uk/health-index/
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the EDI in Energy Conference. You can find out more information by viewing the 2026 sponsor pack and by contacting the team for more details: events@energy-uk.org.uk
Notes for Editors
About The Energy Institute
The Energy Institute is the chartered professional membership body for people who work across the world of energy. Our purpose is to create a better energy future for our members and society by accelerating a just global energy transition to net zero. We do this by attracting, developing and equipping the diverse future energy workforce; informing energy decision-making through convening expertise and advice; and enabling industry and consumers to make energy lower carbon, safer and more efficient.
About Energy Networks Association
Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the energy networks. Our members include every major electricity network operator in the UK. The electricity networks are at the heart of the energy transition. They directly employ more than 26,000 people in the UK, including 1,500 apprentices. They are spending and investing £33bn in our electricity grids over the coming years, to ensure safe, reliable and secure energy supplies for the millions of homes and businesses reliant on power every day.
https://www.energynetworks.org
About Energy UK
Energy UK is the trade association for the energy industry, representing companies investing billions of pounds to secure our country’s current and future energy needs.
From growing start-ups to major electricity generators, grid and infrastructure developers and energy suppliers, our members are driving change across power, heat, transport and flexibility.
We provide a collective voice for the sector working with governments, regulators, charities and other organisations to provide crucial insight that shapes policy, offers solutions and promotes best practice.
Our broad view across the whole system supports evidence-based positions which are not tied to particular technologies, and are focused on delivering strategic benefits for people, businesses and the economy.
We champion initiatives such as our Vulnerability Commitment, which pushes suppliers to go beyond regulation to support customers with additional needs, and TIDE, the industry’s drive for greater inclusion and diversity. Through our Young Energy Professionals Forum, we support the development of future leaders. We are equally committed to our team and are proud to be recognised as a ‘Gold’ Investors in People employer.
About Offshore Energies UK
Offshore Energies UK is the leading trade body for the UK’s integrating offshore energies industry. Our membership includes over 400 organisations with an interest in offshore oil, gas, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and wind. From operators to the supply chain and across the lifecycle from production to decommissioning, they are safely providing cleaner fuel, power and products to the UK. Working together with our members, we are a driving force supporting the UK in ensuring security of energy supply while helping to meet its net zero ambitions. We work on behalf of the sector and our members to inform understanding with facts, evidence and data, engage on a range of key issues and support the broader value of this industry in a changing energy landscape.
About RenewableUK
RenewableUK is the voice of the UK’s renewable energy industry. Representing close to 500 companies spanning the full supply chain, our members develop, operate and maintain the UK’s wind, tidal, storage and flexibility infrastructure. By connecting industry and policy makers, we strengthen the UK’s global leadership in renewables, building a secure, affordable and sustainable energy future.
About TIDE
TIDE (Tackling Inclusion and Diversity in Energy) is a collaboration between energy trade associations. It started as a volunteer-led group in 2022 and, alongside the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Energy calendar, which marks EDI training, events and days of significance, TIDE hosts the EDI in Energy Hub. This includes resources for EDI / HR and talent development professionals across the sector, as well as individuals looking to find support and people who may be facing similar challenges to them.
TIDE also runs the Health Index, an EDI maturity tool that measures the policies and processes companies have in place and their impact. It is designed to both allow companies to anonymously benchmark themselves, as well as supporting wider industry data collection and the ability to measure progress year on year.
TIDE works closely with EDI in Energy groups, such as POWERful Women, Energyz Black and Pride in Energy, and is supported by Energy UK, ENA, Energy Institute, RenewableUK and Offshore Energies UK. It is seeking to widen its collaboration with other energy trade bodies during 2026.
You can find out more, and sign up to TIDE’s sector-wide newsletter, by visiting the EDI in Energy Hub: https://www.energyedihub.uk/