Here are some updates from our national leads
Since we last blogged, we’ve had a jam-packed period of manifestos, office moves, new business wins and opportunities.
Scotland by Laura Sutherland
New home
First off, our new home is at 74 Black Street in Glasgow, still in the city centre but now in a newly kitted out multi-disciplinary office, where we can collaborate even more effectively. I’ve been hosting a series of client and contact coffees and boardroom lunches to celebrate.
Project update
The Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4) consultations wrapped up and we completed feedback analysis and the subsequent report. EGL4 is a proposed new High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) electrical link that will connect Fife in Scotland with Norfolk in England.
We’ve had a busy month with two large SP Energy Networks projects kicking off consultation rounds, for Denny to Wishaw and also Western Link 2.
We also recently completed our first digital EIA project. It’s been a fascinating project and a great way to bring Buchan Offshore Wind’s EIA to life.
The Highlands
North of Scotland has also been calling as we prepare for the Highland Sustainable Development Summit, organised by Highland CIC. We’re proud sponsors of the organisation and have been planning our exhibition stand and workshop for the supplier day.
Being inclusive and accessible
Over the last couple of months, we’ve been writing blogs for the Copper website which have been geared towards getting people to think differently about engagement and consultation, to include diversity and inclusion, and accessibility as part of strategies.
Political landscape
We’re now in a period of running. We’ve got a small window up until the start of March, when the party campaigning kicks off, to get positioning and briefings completed if they are to have any impact. We encouraged clients to develop their own manifestos a few months ago, a tool to help place key projects front and centre of party priorities.
After March, the campaigns will play out, the election will be held, and then there is another short window before recess and summer holidays. Then it all plays out again for the 2027 local elections.
A quick look ahead
Going into 2026 we’ve got a number of projects (20+) which will be live and we’ll be working across offshore wind, onshore wind, heat networks, water, transmission and distribution. We’re strengthening our relationships and combined service offering with other RSK businesses which makes us a challenger to other multi-disciplinaries.
Wales by Lisa Childs
The political landscape in Wales
As the end of 2025 draws near, minds turn to what changes in political headwinds 2026 may bring. As Reform UK and Plaid Cymru are consistently neck and neck in the polls ahead of the Senedd 2026 elections. Plaid will go into the new year with wind in their sails following the Caerphilly by-election win. Labour on the other hand, with dwindling support in the polls, may be punished further by the public depending on developments in Westminster, particularly if there are tough economic shocks following the Autumn Statement.
Up up up!
At an industry level, there are signs of progress, with the long-awaited sector deal tantalisingly close to agreement. However, given that in 2023 no new large-scale wind projects (onshore/offshore) were commissioned in Wales; the only way is up. According to a report by RenewableUK, the overall wind power pipeline in Wales is a potential 12.2 GW, with onshore wind increasing by 30% from 2024 to a potential ~5,907 MW in October 2025. Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, the new public sector developer, officially launched in July 2025 and announced its initial proposed sites for onshore wind developments across Wales on public land. Offshore wind opportunities in the Celtic Sea remain the significant opportunity for Wales, with OW Ocean Winds joining Gwynt Glas and Equnior in developing some of the largest floating wind farms in the world.
Across the nation
We will be going into the festive season gearing up for three statutory consultation launches in Wales in December and January across onshore wind, solar and transmission. Our team of seven communications and engagement specialists will be out and about across North, Mid and South Wales engaging with communities, making the case for these critical projects.
Whatever political change 2026 brings in Wales, the importance of meaningful dialogue, trust-building and building community confidence in net zero is critical; and our Welsh team stands ready to facilitate dialogues across Welsh communities.
Ireland by James Hillier
One year on
Copper marks its first anniversary operating in Ireland at the end November 2025. Starting from scratch in Ireland has had its challenges, but as a business we have made great progress in terms of our flagship project with GNI, built new relationships across the infrastructure sector and developed a pipeline of opportunities targeting new business.
When we established our Irish business, we recognised the scale of the opportunity ahead: a country with one of Europe’s most ambitious infrastructure and energy transition agendas, underpinned by a need to address a historical infrastructure deficit.
Over the past year, Ireland’s major projects landscape has continued to accelerate. From renewable energy and grid modernisation to transport, housing, water and regeneration.
We have developed relationships across semi-state organisations responsible delivering much of Ireland’s new infrastructure, developers and enabling organisations. The 2030 Collective Dinner, which we are hosting on 27 November, demonstrates how far we have come in a year, with representatives from Uisce Éireann, the Land Development Agency, EirGrid, Dublin Port, Energia and others.
At the end of November, we will also reach a significant project milestone with Gas Networks Ireland (keep an eye out towards the end of the month!). Reaching this milestone is down to the hard work of a wide team from Strategic Development and Content and Creative. Kudos, in particular, goes to Jamie Bannerman who has been involved on the project from the beginning, Sophia Dunne who has led much of the design work, Serena Wynter who has held the pen on content creation, Kelleigh Greene for initial copywriting and editing and more recently, Jess Hoare.
In December, we’ll formally begin work on our newest project with Cork City Council, which will see the redevelopment of the Cork Docklands area. This is a complex scheme that interfaces with several other projects including plans for Cork’s new Light Rail System (Cork LUAS) and other schemes. This is a multiyear engagement and will completely transform Cork City.
Here’s to year one. More work to do, but lots more opportunity to go after.
Summary
It’s fair to say that change is coming across the nations and it’s our privilege to be here to help you plan for scenarios and help navigate change when it’s here.