Energy and utilities public relations

Public relations and public affairs in the energy sector

Over the last two decades and more, some of Chelgate's most effective work has been undertaken in the energy and utilities sectors. We have worked for the world's largest oil company, the UK's largest cable provider, the UK's largest gas company, and one of the UK's largest refuse collection companies.

The 1990s was a period of rapid and profound change that saw major transformations in the gas, electricity and water industries, nuclear power, refuse collection and street cleansing, waste recycling and minimisation, telephony and cable services. Chelgate has been engaged in all these sectors, by clients ranging in scale from dominant market leaders to smaller regional businesses. 

The last decade has seen the emergence of sustainability and alternative energy generation. We have been pioneers in this field, working on projects in these areas including major on-  and off-shore wind farms, solar photovoltaics (buildings and arrays), biomass, energy from waste, combined heat & power and a proposed major tidal barrage.

The work has varied considerably in nature, but almost without exception it has been managed in an atmosphere of intense public and media scrutiny, sometimes hostile, a highly charged and sensitive atmosphere in which the perceived activities of the organisations as much as their communications have had a direct bearing upon their reputations and market valuations. The period has also witnessed a massive rise in the importance of an organisation's environmental accountability.

Our work has embraced planning support, stakeholder engagement, community relations, contributions to legislation and select committees, building alliances of interest, issues and crisis management, and contract bid support, as well as media relations, environmental consultancy, creative services, marketing support and digital services.