Background

Northern Gas Networks’ Young Innovators Council (YIC) is the voice of young people at NGN. It provides young people’s perspectives and NGN ensures these young people’s thoughts and opinions are put at the heart of the business’s decision making. Each session agenda is co-created by Solutions for the Planet (S4TP), Northern Gas Networks and the Young Innovators Council, leading to meaningful and relevant engagement that provides a real opportunity to influence decision-making. The YIC is recruited and supported by S4TP. In 2021 it was made up of 35 young people aged 14–18 who were based across the footprint of NGN.

WHY NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS CHOSE S4TP YOUTH INSIGHTS

Working with Solutions for the Planet helped Northern Gas Networks to gain clarity both of the overall purpose and of the specific objectives of each of the different sessions. This ensured all activities were time efficient and maximised the value gained.

Solutions for the Planet also work with the Stakeholder team at NGN, engaging over 1,500 young people in the Big Ideas Programme across the NGN footprint. S4TP has a strong network of school partners including schools in areas of high social deprivation within that footprint.

S4TP has a track record of engaging over 27,000 young people in dynamic environments, both online and face-to-face, creating spaces where they feel comfortable and confident to contribute their thoughts and ideas.

Key principles of all sessions:

Empower young people to use strategies and methods to acquire information and knowledge, and to use that knowledge to make decisions.

Empower young people by recognising their experience and expertise.

Respect young people’s leadership activities.

Involve young people in co-creation at all stages of the process.

ENGAGEMENT METHODOLOGY

The Young Innovators Council were given information on the sustainability issues facing energy companies in the form of presentations from Hannah Jewison, NGN’s Sustainability Lead, and Simon Pringle, CEO of Project Rome. This was in order that the young people could then give informed and knowledgeable feedback on the sustainability strategy, and more confidently offer their insights. Groups were split into smaller breakout rooms to focus on either the ‘people’ or ‘planet’ aspect of the strategy. Online collaboration tools were used to gain both quantitative and qualitative information. Each group then fed back to the wider group.

OUTCOMES

Change of language used – from ‘Sustainability Strategy’ to ‘People & Planet Strategy’.

Use of positive language, e.g., from ‘reduce inequalities’ to ’embrace equality’

Inclusion of principled pension investments

LGBTQ+ training for staff

THE CHALLENGE

Northern Gas Networks had created a sustainability strategy but were unsure what future customers would expect a company to be doing in terms of sustainability. We held a session of the Young Innovators Council to gather their insights on this.

Objectives of session:
A. Understand what sustainability means to young people.
B. In relation to Northern Gas Network’s sustainability strategy:
Does it cover everything that’s important to young people?
Is it ambitious enough?
What’s missing, or is there anything included that is unnecessary?
Is the language right, i.e., does net zero mean something to you?
Are the targets clear and understandable?
C. How should Northern Gas Networks prioritise these commitments/targets? What are the top five?

THE BENEFITS TO NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS

By bringing in diverse young voices, children and young people can be at the heart of decision making.
By enhancing links with community and school partners, meaningful engagement is created with key stakeholders and future customers.
By encouraging young people to consider energy issues, they in turn inspire their families and communities to consider their relationship with energy.
By forming a youth panel, the Young Innovators Council, Northern Gas Networks are providing opportunities to upskill future talent and support the next generation to be the technologists of the future, who will make the path to net zero possible.
By forming the YIC, Northern Gas Networks build on its positioning as agents of innovation and its consumer-centric culture.
By creating an enduring commitment to engage young people, Northern Gas Networks tie together the three core principles in their strategic approach to engagement: meaningful, inclusive and iterative.

THE BENEFITS TO YOUNG PEOPLE

By joining the Young Innovators Council, young people gain experience of informing and influencing the agenda and decisions of a major utility company.
By being part of the YIC, young people have increased networking opportunities.
By actively participating in the YIC, young people develop key skills, e.g., teamwork, confidence, negotiation.
In recognition of their role on the YIC, young people receive certificates and references.
By listening and learning from the presentation material, young people increase their knowledge about the UK energy infrastructure.