In August this year Mark Sneddon was appointed as Delivery Director at Aurora, becoming one of the first employees of the new IDNO. His role is critical to the safe and efficient delivery of customer projects, overseeing a growing team as well as leading strategy, risk management and regulatory compliance.
Having worked for a FTSE 100 energy company, and most recently another IDNO, Mark brings a wealth of experience to the role. Here, he shares details of his career path and why he jumped at the opportunity to join Aurora, the UK’s newest IDNO.
Q: Hello Mark, firstly can you tell us about your role at Aurora?
A: My title is Delivery Director, which is a role centred around project management, compliance and stakeholder engagement. I am managing several key individuals within the business which includes grid connection managers, project managers, and land rights managers. Our team continues to grow with experienced and highly-skilled individuals from the industry joining us each month.
It’s a dynamic role; no two days will ever be the same as I oversee the delivery of a variety of infrastructure projects, ensuring that they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. One day I could be working on the connection of a new EV charging hub, the next a sustainable data centre project.
As well as taking on the role of people manager with a focus on personal development and training for those individuals, I also collaborate with the senior management teams on the customer-side, supporting them develop strategies that will allow for the expansion of network connections and ensure reliability of service.
I also regularly liaise with local authorities, contractors and the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to ensure any challenges, planned work and key milestones are effectively communicated, allowing the projects to continue at pace. This makes my role very people-centric, a lot of it is building close relationships and nurturing them.
It is also crucial that I have a sound understanding of local legalisation and industry regulations so our customers can navigate the often complex area of compliance. Bringing lessons learnt from previous roles, and best practice, plays an important role there.
Budget monitoring is also key when looking at projects holistically, I keep a close eye on financial projections, and I am accountable for keeping them on track and within budget. This can mean effective forecasting and resource allocation for example.
Joining a company like Aurora is a great opportunity to do things differently, move away from the status quo and continuously innovate. I am currently leading several initiatives which are focused on identifying areas of improvement across industry projects, looking at how we can improve processes, adopt advanced technologies, and enhance service delivery overall.
Q: You mentioned bringing ‘lessons learnt’ from previous roles into your work at Aurora, can you tell us about your past career experience?
A: I’ve been working in the energy sector for over 15 years now, with a particular focus on highly regulated environments. My career began in project management, which allowed me to hone my skills in overseeing large-scale infrastructure projects.
I joined the Scottish DNO, SSE, in 2013 as a Contracts Manager then moved into a Project Manager role where I was focused on managing multi-utility construction contracts, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
In 2018, I transitioned to a freelance project management role where I offered consultancy support to growing businesses. After building close industry contacts, an opportunity came up to join a Swedish owned energy company that had recently entered the UK market with a newly obtained IDNO license.
I took on the role of Head of Operations and Delivery with that IDNO, and was responsible for executing large capital projects on the electricity distribution network, and developing effective contract management processes.
I then moved into the role of Head of Major Projects, which was within a newly functioned team working across business units within the company. This allowed me to work with the company’s senior management team to drive strategic growth within the UK market. In addition, I focused on advancing heat network growth.
During my career, one of the most notable achievements was spearheading the first collaboration between IDNOs and heat networks in an established JV in a capital city. I played a pivotal role in forging the contractual arrangements. This project ultimately provides essential infrastructure for over 16,000 homes but also marked a significant step in enhancing energy access and sustainability within local communities.
Having enjoyed the role for over five years, I knew it was time for my next challenge and when I heard that @Simon Reilly and @Jamie McAinsh had set up a new IDNO, I knew it was something new and exciting that I wanted to be part of.
Q: Why did you want to work in the energy sector?
A: That’s an easy one to answer; the energy sector plays a critical role in shaping our society, and addressing some of the most pressing challenges we face today, including climate change, sustainability, and energy security.
I’ve always been passionate about contributing to initiatives that leave a meaningful impact on communities and the environment, and by working for an IDNO focused on supporting the energy transition to low carbon alternatives, I am actively doing my bit to support the UK’s ambitions to reach net zero.
The UK energy sector is at the forefront of innovation, particularly with the transition to renewable energy sources and the development of smart grid technologies. Being part of an industry that is actively working towards a more sustainable future is incredibly motivating. I find it rewarding to be involved in projects that not only enhance energy efficiency but also promote environmental responsibility.
In addition, the dynamic nature of the energy sector appeals to my professional aspirations. The opportunity to lead large-scale projects, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and drive strategic growth aligns perfectly with my skills and career goals.
Overall, my desire to make a positive impact, coupled with my interest in technological advancements, drew me to this sector and continues to inspire me every day.
Q: Why join Aurora?
A: Joining Aurora offers the opportunity to work directly with business leaders who have honourable Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ambitions with the aim of improving their own organisations, and the communities in which they operate.
It is an opportunity to directly contribute to essential services that impact people’s daily lives and support sustainability efforts. It is incredibly inspiring to be able to support such important goals through my work.
As well as strong, experienced leadership from Simon and Jamie, the company is backed by the world-leading infrastructure investor, I-Squared. It was highly appealing joining a company that has entered the market with a $200million injection of capital, and one that is part of an ‘Article 9 of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)’ Fund. This gives Aurora the credibility and the momentum to accelerate its vision of decarbonising UK infrastructure.
Not only that, but the opportunity to build a team from the ground up, attract new talent and grow their competencies, and help to develop a great culture really is something special.
The Aurora team mentality is to learn from past experiences but to move away from legacy policies, embrace change and new innovations, in order to create a unique offering which is something I got on board with right away.
Q: Why do you think IDNOs are important to the UK?
A: IDNOs are essential in the evolving energy landscape for several reasons.
- They foster competition within the electricity distribution market, providing consumers with more choices, and potentially lowering costs. Offering alternative connections and services, IDNOs stimulate innovation and efficiency among traditional network operators.
- Secondly, IDNOs play a vital role in supporting the transition to clean sources of energy. They facilitate the integration of distributed generation sources, such as solar and wind into the grid. This capability is crucial for meeting carbon reduction targets, and advancing the shift toward a more sustainable energy system.
- IDNOs can also unlock the EHV (Extra High Voltage) connections sector by offering funding and delivery capabilities to enable newly classed critical infrastructure such as data centres to be energised quicker.
- Overall, IDNOs contribute significantly to infrastructure development and are crucial for driving innovation, fostering competition, and supporting sustainable development in the energy sector.
Q: Having worked at Aurora for several months now, what do you think makes it stand out?
A: I would put it down to six things:
- A customer-centric approach: the team places a significant focus on customer service. It is the satisfaction of our customers that sets Aurora apart from the competition, we always ensure that their needs are addressed promptly.
- Innovative Solutions: we place a huge importance on cutting-edge technologies and innovative practices, which we believe leads to an efficient service and improved operational performance. As a newly launched IDNO we are not tied to legacy policies or platforms and can develop modern, fit-for-purpose solutions that make our operations as efficient as possible.
- Sustainability: a genuine commitment to sustainability and green practices differentiates Aurora, and appeals to environmentally conscious customers and stakeholders. Aurora doesn’t have a gas license and driving net zero is at the core of the business and its vision.
- Local Engagement: the team has strong ties to communities across Great Britain, and it is this commitment to local projects that enhances our reputation and fosters customer loyalty.
- Expertise and Experience: A skilled team with extensive industry experience can provide a competitive edge in delivering high-quality services. We have all ‘been there, done it, and want to do it better’ with Aurora.
- Adaptability: The ability to adapt to changing market conditions, the regulatory landscape, and customer demands, positions Aurora as a forward-thinking leader in the industry.
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