In this episode of WSP’s Positive Impact Podcast, host Lucy Siegle is joined by Malcolm Lewis, Cost & Commercial Director for the Great Grid Upgrade at National Grid, and Kirsten Oliver, Managing Director for Energy at WSP, to discuss the people powering the UK’s largest electricity grid overhaul in generations. Together, they explore the scale and urgency of the Great Grid Upgrade, a nationwide programme designed to connect new sources of clean energy, such as wind and solar, to homes and businesses across the country.

The conversation highlights the critical need to train, attract and retain a diverse and skilled workforce to deliver this ambitious energy transition, emphasising that the future of the sector depends on a wide range of skills, from engineering and digital expertise to project management and environmental planning.

The guests stress the importance of making careers in energy infrastructure accessible to people from all backgrounds, not just those with traditional degrees and discuss how collaboration between industry, government and education is essential for building a future-ready workforce.

Ultimately, the episode is a call to action for curiosity, inclusivity and collective effort, showing how flexible career pathways and a focus on people are key to powering the UK’s clean energy future.