Regenerating Futures: NWG Innovation Festival 2025

Supporting young talent through practical, people-first sessions 

Some standout ideas by the students included:

"They helped me go away with ideas. They're always thinking differently. I came hoping to inspire them, but they inspired me." — Dan Crerand, Train to Deploy Director 

Over 240 staff hours were invested by Rullion across the week, with team members adapting every session to the personalities and needs of each school group. That flexibility made a real difference. 

"You don’t know who’s walking through the door. But within minutes, you see the collaboration. Even the quieter students start feeding in great ideas." — Tracy Hands, Client Services Director 

A true festival feel: Innovation in action at Newcastle Racecourse 

The Innovation Festival 2025 took place at Newcastle Racecourse from 7–10 July. This wasn’t your typical conference. The event had a genuine festival feel, blending forward-thinking innovation with outdoor fun and community spirit. 

Over 3,000 innovators from 37 countries and 500 organisations attended the event, spanning 45 sectors. The festival theme of "regeneration" brought together people and ideas aimed at rebuilding infrastructure, ecosystems, and economies for a more resilient future.

Attendees were treated to a range of experiences, including: 

Headphones were used during sessions – not for silent discos, but to ensure everyone could hear clearly without raised voices. Each speaker used a mic ball passed around the room, keeping the tone interactive and relaxed. 

There was no shortage of star power either. Daily guest speakers included: 

The entire venue buzzed with ideas and energy. From structured sprints and hands-on hacks to live panels and immersive demos, the atmosphere encouraged curiosity and collaboration. 

“Lots of people, lots of chatter, lots of fun activities... it’s just a really fun environment that allows that innovation and creativity.” – Tracy Hands, Client Services Director 

Diversity, inclusion, and social impact in action 

Rullion’s presence wasn’t limited to youth workshops. Team members also took part in the Women in STEM event, celebrating representation and allyship in the utilities sector. 

"There’s a real pursuit of equality here. It’s about empowering everyone to be the best version of themselves." — Emma Martinez, Client Solutions Manager 

The festival had a unique energy. It offered hands-on sprints, real-world challenges, and insightful talks. Young people, clients, and partners shared ideas, built relationships, and worked toward a common goal. They imagined a better, more sustainable future for water. 

"I absolutely love coming to this event. I remember driving home last year and feeling like my soul had been filled up." — Sinead Scott, Client Services Manager 

Spotlight: Building a more inclusive utilities workforce 

The utilities sector is undergoing rapid transformation. It faces growing pressures from climate change, digital disruption, and an ageing workforce. According to a report by Energy & Utility Skills, 277,000 new recruits will be needed by 2029 to fill skills gaps across the UK’s energy and water infrastructure (source). 

In this environment, engaging early talent isn’t optional – it’s essential. Events like the NWG Innovation Festival help address these challenges head-on. 

Rullion’s participation shows what’s possible when recruitment goes beyond filling roles. It becomes a driver for: 

Why collaboration fuels innovation 

The festival’s sprint methodology mirrors approaches pioneered by Google Ventures, using time-boxed design sessions to solve complex problems. It works. 

"It’s all about people. Everyone's pulling in the same direction, focused on making things better." — Emma Martinez, Client Solutions Manager 

In Rullion’s work supporting digital transformation in utilities, we see the same pattern. When clients, partners, and communities come together, challenges turn into ideas. Ideas turn into impact. 

Learn more about our Managed Service Programme (MSP) designed specifically for the utilities sector. 

Driving digital transformation in water

Digital innovation is reshaping the utilities sector. And water companies like Northumbrian Water are leading the way. From data-led asset management to AI-powered leak detection, they’re investing in technology to increase efficiency, resilience, and customer experience. 

One key area of focus has been the use of digital twins – virtual models of physical infrastructure – to improve planning and maintenance. These models help reduce service disruptions and prioritise investment where it’s needed most. 

Another priority is cloud migration. Northumbrian Water has made strong progress moving its core systems to cloud-based platforms, enabling better data sharing, faster analytics, and more flexible working environments. 

These changes don’t happen in isolation. They rely on skilled digital talent, from developers and engineers to data analysts and cybersecurity experts. 

Rullion’s MSP delivery helps support these goals by sourcing and managing high-calibre digital contractors across Northumbrian Water’s sites. Since January 2025, we’ve delivered: 

As utilities become more tech-led, digital transformation in water will depend on recruitment that’s agile, strategic, and values-driven. 

The value of early careers initiatives 

According to the Learning & Work Institute, employer engagement in early careers significantly improves long-term employment outcomes for young people. 

And it's not just about future employees, it benefits businesses too: 

That’s why Rullion offers services like Train to Deploy, which help clients close skills gaps through customised early-career pathways. 

Making the case for social value in recruitment 

Clients across the utilities sector are increasingly expected to deliver measurable social value as part of their projects. This means community investment, inclusive hiring, and long-term legacy planning. 

The NWG Innovation Festival helps put these principles into practice. It connects suppliers and partners with real people – the future workforce – and gives them a chance to make an immediate, visible difference. 

This kind of engagement isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s quickly becoming a commercial requirement, especially for those bidding on regulated frameworks or public sector contracts. 

Social value can be embedded through recruitment when agencies: 

Rullion has experience delivering this within MSP and direct delivery models. Learn how our Utilities sector services embed social value into workforce planning.

From ideas to action: What’s next? 

The impact of the Innovation Festival goes beyond one week. It adds to a longer-term movement across the water and utilities jobs market. A movement towards smarter, more inclusive, and more collaborative workforce solutions. 

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