24 June 2026
Great British Energy (GBE) will bring together leading voices from industry, civil society, Parliament, trade unions and human rights organisations today (Wednesday 24 June) to guide GBE's approach to ethical supply chains.
The Group will act in an advisory capacity, providing expert perspectives on GBE's Ethical Supply Chains Programme and serving as a forum to address the systemic challenges facing the sector.
Its inaugural meeting will take place today, chaired by GBE Non-Executive Director, Baroness Frances O'Grady.
The establishment of the Advisory Group reflects GBE's commitment, embedded in the Great British Energy Act and its Strategic Plan, to becoming a sector leader on ethical supply chains. It also delivers on prior commitments that GBE would consult trade unions and civil society, as part of this agenda.
As a publicly owned energy company, GBE is committed to using its influence and investing power to push for higher standards, strengthen oversight, and support efforts to diversify away from high-risk supply chains. This is complex, long-term work - but it is how GBE will deliver meaningful progress and drive lasting systemic change.
Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier said:
"As a publicly owned energy company, GBE has both the opportunity and the responsibility to lead by example on ethical supply chains.
“The clean energy transition must be a just one and that means being honest about the challenges that exist in global supply chains and taking deliberate, practical steps to address them.
“This Advisory Group brings together exactly the kind of expertise and challenge we need to get this right."
Baroness Frances O'Grady, Non-Executive Director, Great British Energy:
"Ethical supply chains aren't a nice-to-have — they're fundamental to what a just transition actually means in practice.
“I'm proud to chair this Group and to work alongside those driving real change on this agenda. We know the challenge ahead of us isn’t easy, but with this group around the table, we have the expertise and momentum to drive real change.”
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:
“Great British Energy is undertaking vital work to lead the industry on ethical supply chains.
“Bringing together unions and experts, today’s meeting is a step forward in tackling this issue as we build our clean energy future here in the UK.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The Ethical Supply Chain Advisory Group has been convened to advise on GBE's approach to ethical supply chains within its investments and operations, and to support GBE's ambition to become a sector leader in human rights best practice.
- GBE will use the Group to develop practical, tangible outputs, regular feedback cycles, and published findings, ensuring ambition is matched by action.
- The Group draws membership from industry, Parliamentarians, and civil society organisations including NGOs, human rights groups, and trade unions.
- Chair: Baroness Frances O’Grady of Upper Holloway, GBE Non-Executive Director.
- Membership: Rachel McEwen, Royal London Asset Management Sustainability Advisory Committee, former CSO at SSE and Scotland’s Just Transition Commissioner; Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK; Merlin Hyman OBE, Chief Executive of Regen and appointed Clean Power Commissioner for DESNZ. Merlin will occasionally require substitution by Ray Arrell, Director at Regen; Sarah Champion MP, Labour MP for Rotherham; Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey OBE; Gemma Freedman, International Officer at UNISON; Stephen Russell, International Labour Standards Lead at TUC; Patricia Carrier, Interim Business and Human Rights Manager at Anti-Slavery International.
- Observers: Danny Miles, Head of Collective Action at the Ethical Trading Initiative; George Foster, Deputy Director and Chair of the UK Office for Responsible Business Conduct, Department for Business and Trade.