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OCU GROUP

sustainable water reservoir, or a windfarm, the organisation operates across the entire value chain. “We have a high level of operational discipline, and we are very innovative when it comes to finding solutions for our clients,” Michael notes. “Some of our competitors might be able to deliver a single part of a project, but we can do it all. When one company oversees all elements of a project, it takes away the execution risk that can occur when different parties are involved at varying stages.” The diverse nature of OCU’s work makes it hard to showcase the organisation’s full impact through only a handful of projects. However, some of the company’s most recent activity has included major infrastructural work in North Wales and Scotland.

“We’ve been working on the Vyrnwy Aqueduct in Wales, which brings drinking water to the UK’s Northwest,” Michael states. “That’s a two-year relining project on behalf of United Utilities. “In Scotland, we’ve delivered over 110 wind farms, while elsewhere, we’re leading on half a dozen battery storage plants. Renewable energy is great, but on days when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, battery storage is important for maintaining and stabilising electricity to people’s homes and businesses.” As Michael suggests, the work OCU performs across the UK is having a material impact on the lives of people and their communities. The company’s ongoing success in doing so is proof that modern businesses can be both ethical and profitable.

“As a society, we take energy and utilities for granted – we don’t notice them until they are gone – but at OCU, we are actively making people’s lives better. The work we do allows communities to function effectively. From charging your vehicle to simply watching TV, we are the people that facilitate that.” SAFETY, INTEGRITY, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT In order to provide meaningful results on such a major scale, OCU relies upon around 2,200 employees and nearly 3,000 contractors. This community of more than 5,000 people is united by the organisation’s focus on culture, which celebrates values of safety, integrity, and continuous improvement. “We really believe in hiring people that fit with our culture,” says Michael. “We value people who are hardworking, diligent, thoughtful, and respectful to the communities in which we operate. We also need problem solvers because almost every project you encounter will have some quirks that need addressing. Ultimately, OCU is built on people who take pride in their job and that support the person at the desk, or with the shovel, beside them.” Led by its workforce, OCU exhibits its values in UK communities through its work, but also through its charitable efforts. Schools, sports teams, and local charities have all been among the company’s most recent beneficiaries. “On a day-to-day basis, we urge our people to leave sites better than they found them, but this sentiment carries through into other areas of our operation,” Michael reveals. “We operate a charity days scheme so employees can step

“THE WORK WE DO ALLOWS COMMUNITIES TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY. FROM CHARGING YOUR VEHICLE TO SIMPLY WATCHING TV, WE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT FACILITATE THAT.”

daughter in Sydney. We are not just upgrading electricity infrastructure, but ensuring that a nurse, upon finishing a 12- hour shift, can come home to a microwavable meal and hot water.

“When it comes to our work, I encourage our people to see the bigger picture,” Michael remarks. “We are not just digging a hole and laying fibre, we are helping a grandmother in Ipswich FaceTime her

Michael Hughes, CEO, OCU Group.

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