By Mike Barlow, Regulation and Sustainability Manager at Aurora Utilities Limited
Aurora has been built on a foundation of sustainability and responsibility – these factors are not just a corporate afterthought, but the very framework guiding every decision we make. As a business funded through I Squared Capital’s Energy Transition Infrastructure Fund (ETIF), an SFDR Article 9 Fund, Aurora’s sustainability commitments are not optional extras – they are embedded in our DNA.
This means every action, investment, and innovation must demonstrably contribute to a sustainable, low-carbon future. It’s an ethos that has not only shaped how we operate but also propelled us to achieve four internationally recognised ISO certifications; a testament to our dedication to excellence, safety, and environmental stewardship.
A new benchmark: Aurora’s ISO accreditations
In 2025, Aurora achieved a major milestone by securing ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems) – followed swiftly by ISO 27001 (Information Security Management Systems).
Together, these four globally respected standards confirm that Aurora’s commitment to quality, safety, environmental responsibility, and data security meets the highest international benchmarks.
- ISO 9001 recognises our robust processes, customer-first approach, and culture of continuous improvement;
- ISO 14001 validates our environmental framework, ensuring we measure and minimise impact while enabling the UK’s energy transition;
- ISO 45001 confirms that health, safety, and wellbeing are ingrained in our operational culture;
- ISO 27001, our latest achievement, demonstrates rigorous cybersecurity and data management standards – strengthening client trust and protecting the integrity of critical infrastructure.
As our Chief Operating Officer, Jeremy Wright, commented, “These ISO certifications reflect our unwavering focus on delivering high-quality services, reducing our environmental impact, and protecting the people who make our work possible.”
Accelerating the UK’s clean energy transition
Aurora’s mission goes beyond compliance – we are actively accelerating the UK’s clean energy transition. As an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO), we connect renewable generation and energy storage faster and more efficiently than ever before, whilst allowing homes, offices and other commercial and public sector businesses decarbonise.
Aurora can help customers cut connection planning from months to days, helping projects reach energisation years ahead of traditional Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). This speed directly supports the UK’s national climate targets: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 77% by 2035 and achieving net zero by 2050.
Independent networks power homes, hospitals, EV depots, schools, and major businesses – bringing renewable energy closer to the communities and industries that need it most.
Embedding responsibility across every level
Sustainability at Aurora is a business commitment, from top down, championed from the boardroom. Our Sustainability Committee – established with the backing of our HR and finance leaders – ensures we maintain structured, transparent reporting and continuous improvement.
Every quarter, the committee reviews performance data, identifies gaps, and refines governance frameworks. What began as a compliance exercise has become a strategic driver, aligning operations with long-term sustainability and growth goals, whilst also managing investor expectations.
Meanwhile, our finance team, led by our recently appointed Chief Finance Officer, Nairn Black, continues to refine procurement and partner standards, ensuring suppliers meet the same rigorous environmental and safety criteria that guide our internal operations.
Culture, people, and purpose
Aurora’s people are central to our success. Sustainability, safety, and inclusion are part of our shared language; values that shape not only how we work but also the kind of company we aspire to be now and in the future.
Our latest employee satisfaction survey returned an 87% positive score, underscoring strong engagement but also helping us identify areas for growth in communication, collaboration, and wellbeing. Diversity and inclusion remain key focus areas, as we continue to build a workplace where everyone can thrive.
This isn’t just good practice – it’s good business. According to the LRN 2024 Benchmark of Ethical Culture, organisations with strong ethical cultures outperform their peers by 50% across metrics such as employee loyalty and customer satisfaction, and are 2.6× more adaptable in volatile markets. At Aurora, we see this resilience as vital to building a truly sustainable enterprise that our people are proud to represent.
From plan to practice: The next chapter
The coming months will see Aurora present new sustainability recommendations to the Board, complete the ISO certification integration across all business areas, and refine supplier assessments to ensure every partner meets our high standards.
These initiatives form part of a repeatable, transparent reporting framework that will evolve each year – driving measurable impact across environmental performance, employee wellbeing, and community outcomes.
More than a checklist, this is Aurora’s blueprint for lasting success
We are building a company where strong governance, environmental responsibility, and a people-first culture come together to deliver real-world progress – powering the UK’s journey to net zero while creating a workplace where diverse energy experts can thrive.
