As the calendar year comes to an end and we embrace 2021 and all that it brings, it seems fitting to recap on events and learnings of 2020 whilst also setting significant and robust company objectives.

To quote Construction News, ‘The challenges of the past year have been immense, and the next 12 months are unlikely to be a quiet ride’, so balancing resilience and unpredictability, with informed preparation will be key during the continual new normal.

2020

Since Covid, CLM have continually levelled up in terms of business improvement. Not only ensuring that our current client portfolio received our very best service, but we also welcomed new business.

We referred to our business strategy and concentrated on business capability, delivering continuous improvement, and creating sustainable success. This clear and collective vision has ensured we are all working with the same shared objectives in mind and achieving outstanding results for our clients.

Our team have adapted seamlessly to working from home, thanks to technology introduced and integrated at the start of 2020, ensuring we could respond rather than react to the pandemic. It has been a record year in many respects for CLM, including number of completions, delivery time and number of new clients.

Training and development have come in all forms, from intensive leadership qualifications, online training via RAU and Peterborough College to 1-2-1 coaching sessions for those new in role. We have developed all team members with in-house training ensuring we are a flourishing, inter-skilled team.

Living Our Company Values

Our team’s commitment to wellbeing is evident in how each member lives and breathes our company core values of Capabilities, Accountability, Integrity and Respect. As a business, we use several channels to open up healthy debate among the team; from one to ones, mentoring and engaging team meetings.

Costain group safety, health and environment director, Lawrence Webb says, ‘The spectre of COVID is still hanging over us and I would absolutely reinforce messages that I’ve heard from my health, safety and environment colleagues all across our industry for many months now and that is: please maintain your focus on the wellbeing of us as individuals, as teams and as an industry. Our physical and mental wellbeing is absolutely key to us all getting through this’.

CLM is extremely fortunate to employ an incredible team of individuals who care, not only about their clients and projects, but also each other.

Navigating Covid 19

Over the last 9 months, the CLM team have risen to the challenges of the pandemic by demonstrating a variety of valued characteristics.

• Teamwork and support have been outstanding, with colleagues really stepping up to cover workloads ensuring our project delivery remains seamless.
• Project co-ordinators have nurtured projects through to completion in record time using smart ways of working and innovative channels of communication.
• The team have pooled their skills to head up regular meetings both internally and with external clients via Microsoft Teams, never losing that human touch which matters so much, particularly now.
• As Investors In People, our team have demonstrated their resilience and capabilities both in and out the workplace; supporting, inspiring and empowering each other. This has been seen via numerous training courses, delivering continuous improvements and creating sustainable business success.

2021

Our team are at the heart of resilient leadership, with a specialised management structure, focusing on:

• team queries and project allocation
• obtaining third party consents and providing industry related training
• dealing with complex projects and in-house training

‘In some ways, the coronavirus has acted as a shot in the arm for the industry. We’ve seen greater cooperation and collaboration with great leadership. If I had to pick one thing out, then it has to be what may be called a productivity revolution; the industry has to prepare to work in a different way.’ ~ Wates group commercial director Simon Potter

We are fortunate enough to work with clients who are committed to providing their customers with the highest level of service. Our ethos echoes that and we work intrinsically with our clients ensuring the CLM team is trained directly in line with their customer service standards. We continue our company promise of reducing project risk from unknown third parties, providing a professional approach, ensuring clients are aware of risks as well as cost certainty.

Thriving Partnerships

We are a small team who make a big impact; our team are thriving during these unprecedented times and this truly confirms their professionalism and conscientiousness, for which CLM is recognised. We are enormously grateful to our committed and conscientious clients who, with our dynamic team, are set to deliver some exceptional results in 2021!

Wishing you a very prosperous new year from us all at CLM.

Laura Wilson

Director

DNOs, IDNOs & Connection Providers

When new developments require electricity supply, the organisation who owns the cables in that area will confirm whether there is available capacity. This Distribution Network Operator (DNO), will also own or ‘adopt’ any new cables or infrastructure installed to provide the supply. However, there is another option as Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs) can also own the new network.

What is a Distribution Network Operator (DNO)?

Licenced by Ofgem, the 14 Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) across England, Scotland and Wales (responsible for a specific geographical area) are owned by six ownership groups:

• Electricity North West
• Northern Powergrid
• Scottish and Southern Electricity
• ScottishPower Energy Networks
• UK Power Networks
• Western Power Distribution

The above DNOs operate and maintain the electricity infrastructure (such as pylons, substations and cables) and are responsible for remedying any power cuts or faults. The DNO will ‘adopt’ any new cables or substations to their network in order to install a new supply.

What is an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO)?

Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs) also own, operate and maintain the electricity infrastructure. The networks which they adopt are the new, installed assets which will integrate into a DNO’s network. Unlike the DNOs, they are not restricted to a specific geographical area. They are regulated by Ofgem in the same way as DNOs are, although with slightly amended licence conditions. 

What is the difference between getting my new connection adopted by the DNO or IDNO?

Regardless of whether your new connection is adopted by the DNO or the IDNO, each is equally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the installation. 

If you ask the DNO to install your new connection for you, it can only be adopted by the DNO.

If you ask an Independent Connections Provider (ICP), to install your new connection for you, it can be adopted by either the DNO or an IDNO.

The key difference is that the IDNO will offer an upfront sum of money, called an ‘Asset Value’, which is payable upon energisation of your supply.

The amount of the Asset Value is dependent upon the amount of energy to be used and whether it is metered at High Voltage (HV) or Low Voltage (LV). 

The role of CLM

Primarily CLM act on behalf of Independent Connection Providers to manage and facilitate any land rights consents which may be required on a project. CLM acquire consents on behalf of:

• Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs)
• Distribution Network Operators (DNOs)
• Independent Gas Transporters (IGTs)
• Gas Transporters (GTs)

How CLM support IDNOs

CLM act on behalf of statutory undertakers, connection providers and private landowners. We have a vast range of experience in the negotiation, management and legal completion of easements, land acquisitions, wayleaves and consents, associated with new electricity, gas and water connections.We recognise the importance of bridging the gap between landowners, connection providers and the adopting networks and provide effective management, ensuring lines of communication remain open throughout the process and legal agreements are completed without delay.

How CLM support the Independent Connection Provider

As CLM are not limited to one network or utility we are not restricted in terms of who work with or where we work. We act on behalf of the ICP, talking directly to their client and managing all consent requirements. The benefits of using CLM include:

• Reduces project risk from unknown third parties
• Professional approach
• Client aware of risks
• Cost certainty

We also provide specialist advice to Independent Connection Providers in relation to proposed routes and regularly carry out route proving exercises in order to provide clarity on any possible consents, as early as possible. This involves our team reviewing a proposed route(s) and identifying any third party interests. We are experienced in managing complex third party negotiations with landowners, Network Rail, Canals and Rivers Trust, The Crown Estate and other national stakeholders.

The forms of consent managed by CLM include:

• Deed of Grant of Easement
• Lease
• Land Acquisition – Transfer of Part
• Wayleave Agreements
• Construction Licence

Contact us

CLM provide the unique, single focused approached needed to ensure projects are delivered on time.

Call our team on 01780 755355 or email us at [email protected] for more information.