ENGIE tackles energy sector's data skills gap with major staff education push

The UK energy sector is under mounting pressure to decarbonise, modernise and better serve customers, yet many suppliers lack the internal data capability to deliver on those ambitions. ENGIE Supply UK is moving to change that, partnering with Data & AI Literacy Academy to build data and AI literacy across its workforce.

The first phase of the programme is now complete, with a second phase underway in 2026. The initiative is designed to give ENGIE Supply UK's people the skills to turn raw data into decisions, reducing reliance on manual workarounds, improving customer outcomes and supporting the company's long-term decarbonisation goals.

Jonlee Lockwood, Head of Data at ENGIE Supply UK, said: "Data is one of our most important assets, but its value comes down to how well our people understand it. We're building a shared language across the organisation, so people feel confident asking questions, challenging what they see, and understanding what the data actually means for our customers and our operations."

Since the programme launched, teams have reported a measurable shift in how data is used day-to-day. Where staff were previously spending the majority of their time reconciling conflicting figures between departments, conversations are now focused on decisions and outcomes rather than defending data sources.

Greg Freeman, Founder and CEO of Data & AI Literacy Academy, said: “McKinsey research shows that data-driven energy asset management can deliver savings of 10-20% but only if the people working with that data know how to use it. That's the gap ENGIE Supply UK is closing. When your teams can interpret demand forecasting, spot anomalies and understand customer usage patterns, data stops being a technical function and starts driving real commercial and operational outcomes."

The partnership will continue into 2026, with the next phase focused on embedding data and AI as a core business capability across ENGIE Supply UK's operations.

Utility Week recently interviewed Jonlee about the programme, so have a look at this article to hear more about his take on the intersection of AI, governance and the need for training.

About ENGIE Supply UK

ENGIE employs more than 8,000 people in the UK and operates right across the energy value chain, from renewable generation to energy supply. It owns and manages a diverse portfolio of low-carbon generation, distribution and flexible storage assets, including one of Europe’s largest pumped-storage hydro plants. ENGIE owns UK Power Networks, the UK’s leading electricity distribution network operator, serving 8.5 million customers across London, the South East and East of England. Through Ocean Winds, its joint venture, ENGIE is one of Scotland’s largest offshore wind generators with 1.8 GW of capacity. It also supplies energy to more than 17,000 business customers and injects over 210 GWh of biomethane into the grid each year. Over more than 20 years, ENGIE has invested billions in the UK’s energy transition, supporting energy security and enabling customers to decarbonise at scale.

‍