How a spark of innovation is igniting change at E.ON
The future of energy will be shaped by the people who challenge how we work today. Claire Whitmore, Head of Digital Technology at E.ON UK, shares how our Innovation Expo, helped bring that future into focus – with the tools, mindset, and momentum to make it real
At E.ON, we believe the future isn’t something that simply arrives. It’s something we build, test, tweak, and rethink – together. That spirit came to life at our Innovation Expo and Hackathon, where teams from across our business came together to explore, experiment and get hands-on with the technologies reshaping how we work.
From artificial intelligence to automation, data platforms to digital assistants (and ultimately, looking at making things simpler, easier, better for our customers) the event wasn’t just a showcase of what’s possible. It was a space to ask bold questions, break things (creatively), and trial new ideas with real-world potential.
The Expo brought together a diverse mix of people and projects – from advanced AI tools already embedded in daily operations to rapid-fire demos from up-and-coming platforms. Attendees explored smarter ways to automate tasks, turn data into positive action, and rethink the role of technology in energy and beyond.
And it wasn’t just for the tech-savvy. One of the event’s key drivers was about opening up access to technology – turning innovation into something everyone can take part in. Whether you’re a digital native or just tech-curious, the Expo showed there’s space for all kinds of thinkers in our innovation journey.
From thinking to tinkering
The ‘Emerging Tech’ Hackathon took things one step further – offering a fast-paced, hands-on environment designed to help teams solve real problems in real time, and giving colleagues a chance to put ideas into practice – working in small groups to tackle real business problems.
Because innovation isn’t a one-off initiative or a job title – it’s a mindset we’re embedding across our company. One that encourages experimentation, enables rapid problem-solving, and empowers colleagues to reimagine how things could be done better.
It’s about giving people the confidence and tools to make them real, and events like this show how quickly ideas can come to life when you remove the barriers and invite everyone into the process.
Whether it’s streamlining workflows, unlocking the power of data, or giving time back to teams, the ideas sparked here are already starting to make an impact.