Aurora is scaling in step with the UK’s growing demand for electrification. As an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO), the business connects developments across Great Britain to the electricity grid and manages those networks – helping projects move forward faster, more efficiently and with greater certainty.
At its core, Aurora is driven by a clear purpose: connecting a sustainable future – enabling customers, communities and industries to transition to cleaner energy use with confidence.
When Aurora’s leadership team came together, one message came through clearly: this is an ambitious, people-focused business evolving at pace – driven by strong governance, innovation, expanding talent, and a clear role in delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions.
At the heart of Aurora’s story is a vision: to be known as the leading network owner in the transition to net zero, and this has shaped the business since its inception. As CEO Simon Reilly explained, the company was created to meet the demand for new electricity connections in the UK, driven by “the electrification of heat, transport, and heavy industry.”
While that need remains firmly in place, the landscape has shifted rapidly. “One big change we’ve seen is the growth of AI…,” he added, pointing to data centres as a fast-emerging market in the UK. Alongside this, more subtle shifts – such as the rise of commercial EV fleets – are reshaping demand. “We’ve seen significant growth in electric HGV charging…think emergency services such as ambulance fleets, major bus and coach operators, nationwide delivery services such as the Royal Mail…”
From data centres to transport fleets, Aurora is building an increasingly diverse customer base that trusts the team to deliver, and are united by a need for reliable, future-ready energy infrastructure.
This ability to adapt has been central to Aurora’s momentum. Regulatory change has also played a key role, particularly reforms to grid connection processes. Simon noted that Aurora is involved much earlier in the lifecycle of projects than some may think: “Rather than just being there to connect them, we’re helping developers structure the projects from the outset and then manage them across their lifecycle.” It’s a shift that strengthens Aurora’s role as a strategic partner – helping to shape projects from day one.
This earlier involvement also positions Aurora not just as a delivery partner, but as an active contributor to how electrification is evolving across the UK – reinforcing the team’s vision of being a leading network owner in the transition to net zero.For Nairn Black, who joined as Chief Financial Officer at the end of 2025, the strength of the leadership team was a major draw. “For me, the initial draw of the business was the calibre of the management team,” he said. “They have done this before…there’s a desire to deliver a better service as an IDNO.”
Aurora is backed by I Squared Capital, a global specialist infrastructure investment manager, which brings long-term stability as the business scales. Nairn was clear that growth must be underpinned by discipline. His focus is on maintaining financial integrity and robust systems – making sure governance keeps pace as the business scales.
This financial discipline is critical to enabling Aurora to scale its asset base safely, seamlessly, and at pace as demand accelerates – without compromising reliability.
Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Wright focuses on operational delivery: “The operations team makes sure that we’ve got a safe, reliable network, and that we are using the best possible technologies, so we can drive net zero.”
Technology plays a key role in Aurora’s delivery. Aurora’s investment in a network operations centre enables live monitoring of assets across the UK. “We can see what’s happening in real time…whether it’s a wind farm in the north of Scotland or an EV charger in London,” Jeremy explained. This improves reliability and gives customers greater visibility – helping to plan, optimise and manage performance.
For Jamie McAinsh, Chief Commercial Officer, success goes beyond delivery metrics: “Success is ensuring our clients are happy and that we have a voice an influential in the industry.”
That trust is central to Aurora’s growth – building long-term partnerships across a diverse and expanding customer base, while strengthening its voice in the UK’s transition to net zero.
Aurora’s approach is simple: make connections faster, more flexible and straightforward for customers – while maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability.
For Simon, culture is equally as important. After a period of rapid expansion, there is a focus on embedding it across the business. “2026 is about embedding the culture into all layers of the business,” he shared.That culture is defined by Aurora’s four pillars – Thrive, Influence, Deliver and Evolve (TIDE) – and plays a key role in attracting and retaining talent.
As Simon put it, recruitment today goes beyond roles and responsibilities. It’s more about: “What does it look and feel like to be an Aurora employee?”
Jamie reinforced the importance of this foundation: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” He describes a business where going “that extra mile” is the norm – where teams take pride in delivery and where success is increasingly measured by impact, not just outcomes.
Energy demand is rising across every sector – and with it, the need for easier connections. “I’ve never before seen energy uptake like this,” Jamie added.
Aurora’s role within this transformation is clear. “We talk about being an enabler,” Simon said. While Jeremy described Aurora’s approach as “fast, flexible, straightforward…it’s where we’ve gone on that journey with the customer.” Whether designing solutions for constrained sites, working across stakeholders, or rethinking traditional approaches to delivery, “we listen to our clients and then we find a solution to their challenge.”
Ultimately, Aurora is aligning market demand, operational capability, financial discipline and culture to deliver at scale. It’s a business growing quickly – but staying focused on what matters: helping customers connect to the grid faster, more efficiently, and with confidence.
By building a diverse customer base, scaling its asset base safely and efficiently, and playing an active role in the UK’s transition to net zero, Aurora is defining its next chapter with clarity and purpose – and reinforcing a vision to be the UK’s leading network owner in that transition.As Simon summarised: “Aurora is an enabler to the energy transition, we are the people that can make it happen quicker, more efficiently, and deliver for our customers.”
Watch the full discussion here: https://vimeo.com/1185829660/5f95e1f7bc?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
