Case study: communications ‘reset’ for Island Green Power

Utility-scale solar development in the UK operates in one of the most communications-intensive environments in infrastructure. Projects require planning consent through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) process, which demands sustained community engagement, national policy navigation and reputational resilience across a development pipeline that can span years. When communications is fragmented or reactive, the costs — to reputation, to planning outcomes and to stakeholder confidence — are significant.

For the second half of 2024, I worked with Island Green Power (IGP), a leading utility-scale solar developer who, against a backdrop of rapid policy change and increasing public scrutiny, sought to strengthen communications.  A specialist in delivering nationally significant infrastructure solar projects (NSIPs), IGP had a fragmented, reactive communications approach that was inefficient and left the organisation vulnerable to reputational risk.

I was appointed as Interim Director of Corporate Affairs with a brief to establish a communications strategy then build an in-house team to reset the brand, strengthen reputation, improve project level communications and accelerate national policy engagement.  I worked with Strategy + Impact associate Charlotte Broadribb to lead brand delivery.

Approach

The six month project began with an audit of IGP’s existing communications, perceptions amongst stakeholders, and reputational risks. Insights were used for:

• Strategy development resulting in a communications framework that improved engagement and aligned messaging across IGP corporate and project communications

• Brand reset including production of comprehensive brand guidelines, key messaging and creation of ‘new’ assets

• Leadership and team engagement to embed the new strategy

• Implementation including recruitment to the internal team and streamlined agency operations across the IGP portfolio to improve efficiency and consistency.

Outcomes

The project contributed to a transformation in IGP's reputation by:

• Repositioning the brand with a clear vision, mission and identity around delivering benefit to communities

• Improving the delivery and effectiveness of communications and community consultation across the IGP portfolio of 13 projects while achieving cost savings of 30-40%  

• Supporting national policy and local stakeholder engagement with clear benefits led messaging 

• Securing positive support amongst national, trade and local media for approval of the UK's largest solar farm (Cottam) 

The outcome was to position IGP as a leading force ‘for good’ in UK solar development. It contributed to strengthening the organisation’s resilience to risk while strengthening investor and stakeholder confidence.

Chandni Ruparelia, COO, Island Green Power: “Natalie quickly got to grips with our fast moving stakeholder and policy landscape to deliver a highly effective communications strategy. This included a strategic approach that won leadership support and led to a brand reset that enabled IGP to achieve greater impact while saving budget. I would recommend to any organisation considering how to leverage reputation for growth.”

Natalie Orringe is a leadership communications consultant and Interim Director of Corporate Affairs with over 20 years' experience. She has led communications for nationally significant infrastructure projects, regulated organisations and major public sector transformation programmes. She founded Strategy + Impact to provide senior-level communications leadership to organisations navigating complex change. Strategy + Impact associate Charlotte Broadribb led brand delivery on this project.