SBGI - serving the Energy & Utility sector


by John Stiggers, Chief Executive, SBGI


The SBGI’s new corporate leaflet clearly sets out the role of the SBGI and its two operational divisions. This is based on the SBGI Mission Statement: “To represent and promote the interests of the UK energy and utility industry, building on its proud track record of over 100 years service to the gas industry, and to provide a wide range of high quality support services to members.” Underlying these words is a really exciting vision for the future development of the SBGI - serving the wider energy and utility sector.

Most of our member companies would not define their business in terms of a particular fuel or technology. They are focused on serving markets which are defined in other terms, such as domestic heating and hot water or utility networks. But they all fall within the energy and utilities sector, as do the issues which they expect the SBGI to address on their behalf, which is why the SBGI’s scope now embraces the whole of that sector.

This new direction is reflected in the events organised by the SBGI. Seminars over the past year have included ‘Utility Metering’, ‘Heating Services’, ‘Transforming Utility Performance’, ‘Utility Street Works’, ‘Utility Connections’, ‘Utility Regulation’, ‘Micropower’, ‘Building Energy Alliances’, ‘Saving Energy to Benefit your Business’ and ‘Energy Prices’. Many of these have been run jointly with other trade associations.

While joint organisation of events represents one form of co-operation, another way of developing a closer relationship with other trade associations - which the SBGI is keen to pursue - is the provision of secretariat services. The SBGI already provides various services for the ICOM Energy Association, OFTEC, NGVA and CEFACD and is in discussion with several other organisations.

Joint events and secretariat services both highlight an important point. The SBGI’s move beyond gas is about closer co-operation with other trade associations in the energy and utility sector, not competing with them. Most trade bodies we deal with are as enthusiastic about co-operation as we are. Members rightly expect the trade associations they support to work closely together to ensure that services are delivered in the most efficient way and that synergy is realised wherever possible.

HHIC and Utility Networks

The SBGI’s organisational structure for serving members is divisional. All member companies are in either the Utility Networks division or the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC). They are members of the division and of the SBGI as a whole. Details of the scope and activities of each of these divisions are provided in separate editorials in this Directory.

Further information about the SBGI is available at www.sbgi.org.uk. The new SBGI corporate leaflet can be downloaded from the website. Alternatively copies can be requested from the secretariat, telephone 01926 334357.