Local Voices, Big Impact: How NW Energy Leaders Are Using LinkedIn to Shape the UK’s Green Transition 

The North West of England is fast becoming a powerhouse for growth in the energy and utilities sector, with major investment pouring into renewables, infrastructure, and innovation.

From pioneering clean tech to establishing new industrial clusters, the region is playing a pivotal role in the UK’s net zero journey. 

As the energy landscape evolves, it’s never been more important to have a strong voice. For businesses, that means building an employee value proposition that attracts the next wave of clean energy talent. For leaders, it means shaping debate, sharing innovation, and influencing policy. And there’s one place where all of this is happening in real time: LinkedIn. 

 

Why LinkedIn, and Why Now? 

As Politico put it: “LinkedIn has lobbyists forgetting their X”. Policymakers and media professionals are increasingly abandoning the chaos of X (formerly Twitter) and embracing LinkedIn as a more constructive space for policy discussion and sector insight. Unlike other platforms, LinkedIn enables sustained professional dialogue, fosters collaboration, and elevates expert voices beyond their immediate network. This is compounded even more on a regional level, as the platform facilitates local community connection and is home to many regional energy and net zero networks. 

Data also shows that content shared by individuals—especially senior leaders and subject matter experts—has significantly more engagement and reach than posts from corporate pages. In a sector like energy, where credibility, nuance, and technical understanding matter, that individual voice carries weight. 

 

A Platform for Policy 

At a national level, LinkedIn is emerging as the go-to forum for energy and climate policy debate. Posts from leaders like Chris Stark CBE (Head of the UK’s Mission for Clean Power at DESNZ) consistently attract hundreds of expert comments, input on government consultation, and informed challenges. 

Locally, voices like Bill Esterson MP—Labour MP for Sefton Central and Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee—are using LinkedIn to connect with constituents, campaigners, and the sector itself. Combine that with coverage from climate journalists like Akshat Rathi, and it’s clear: LinkedIn is no longer just for job hunting—it’s a critical tool for shaping the future of UK energy.  

 

North West Influential Voices 

To explore this at a regional level, we looked at over 50 professionals in energy and utilities across the North West who are actively shaping the conversation on LinkedIn. Below we give a snapshot of just some of these standout voices. 

This research uses an expedited version of our proprietary LinkedIn Impact Score. We use this unique tool to help clients understand the impact and influence their own leadership teams and subject matter experts have on LinkedIn with three core scoring metrics: Visibility, Engagement, and Authority. 

 

🏙 The Local Authority Lead
Luca Biagioni (Liverpool City Region Combined Authority) shows how local government can drive innovation. From heat networks to community engagement, his updates bring policy to life on the ground. 

LinkedIn Impact Score: 48, ranking highly in quality of engagement 

📊 The Data Miner
Nick Peatfield visualises real-time energy usage and carbon intensity across the UK with animated charts and engaging commentary. His posts are a must-follow for anyone working on grid management, demand response, or sustainability reporting. 

LinkedIn Impact Score: 48, ranking highly in Authority, with top marks in topic ownership 

🌍 The Policy Connector
Louise Marix Evans shares critical insight into local climate action and devolution policy, spotlighting how place-based approaches are key to national net zero goals. 

LinkedIn Impact Score: 50, ranking highly in Authority, with high marks in presence of opinion 

🚁 The Innovator
Tom Calverley, a radiometric physicist at Sellafield, posts behind-the-scenes content featuring drone testing, robotics, and experimental clean-up technologies. 

LinkedIn Impact Score: 54, ranking highly in network engagement 

🔗 The Community Connector
Melanie Taylor of NESO demonstrates the power of collaboration, often sharing learnings from across regions and agencies to accelerate regional planning. 

LinkedIn Impact Score: 57, ranking highly in topic ownership 

 👥 The Talent Champion
Lynne Matthews focuses on building the future workforce for net zero and nuclear—advocating for skills development, inclusive recruitment, and leadership pathways. 

LinkedIn Impact Score: 57, ranking highly in public interactions 

🧠 The Educator
Russell Thomas, an energy historian and award-winning scientist, offers fascinating insights into the UK’s energy heritage, often in collaboration with IGEM. His posts use compelling archive material to remind us how far we’ve come—and how much more there is to do. 

LinkedIn Impact Score: 72, ranking highest in Visibility with a high viral reach 

📸 The On-the-Ground Advocate
Juergen Maier CBE, Chair of Great British Energy, uses video and photo-led posts to bring the energy transition to life—whether it’s hydrogen hubs or battery tech rollouts. 

LinkedIn Impact Score: 74, ranking highly in engagement and authority 

 

For energy leaders, LinkedIn is more than a networking tool 

In a sector that’s evolving rapidly and depends so much on collaboration, the professionals who show up, share insights, and engage in policy dialogue are leading at at a vitally important time for the nation’s energy future.  

 To understand how your team ranks on LinkedIn and what it could do to have even greater impact and influence,  contact social@citypress.co.uk.  

By Kerry Sclater, Senior Social Account Director at Citypress