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NETWORK / 8 / JULY/AUGUST 2019 ROUNDTABLE Overcoming challenges faced by SMEs The challenges facing small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) when it comes to engaging with energy networks are wide and varied. Alec Peachey reports on a roundtable debate hosted in association with the Energy Systems Catapult. View from the chair: Alec Peachey SMEs are playing and will continue to play an important role in the energy system transformation. But they're facing frustrations and often must battle against laggards, corporate inertia and what often seems like needless bureaucracy. Although help is at hand through initiatives such as the Catapult's Innovator Support Platform it's clear that more can be done. The risk otherwise is that many new products and services may never make it to market and the wider impact is that the industry could be missing out on some game changing technologies. One of the problems highlighted is that the investment gap seems to exist at the £500,000 to £1 million investment size – possibly because innovators are still too small at that stage and have not yet fully demonstrated their service/product. This means that they lack line of sight to future contracts. Ultimately investment is key, so this is one area that needs looking at. At a time of unprecedented change in the energy sector it's also important that SMEs continue to communicate. There can be a natural tendency for start-ups to become too focused on continual product development and technology readiness levels without engaging with the wider sector. They must continue to build a narrative and work collaboratively to tell the industry how they are seeking to improve things. This might make things easier when it comes to getting the right level of engagement with the networks. Network will continue to feature regular interviews with SMEs to highlight the work they're doing with networks and the types of technologies that are driving innovation forward as part of our supplier side section. interviews with SMEs to highlight the work they're doing with networks and the types of technologies that are driving innovation forward as part of our supplier side section. G etting access to the right deci- sion maker can be a major challenge for any business. We're amidst a hugely exciting energy revolution yet the chal- lenge for SMEs is • nding the appropriate innovation lead or champion within the larger in• uential organisations and working with them to help join up the dots and win some buy-in. Attendees at a debate hosted by Network at the Catapult's headquarters in Birming-