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NETWORK / 17 / APRIL 2016 Recognising the complex environment of change in which UK energy networks are now operating, Utility Week Live has added a new dedicated show area to the 2016 exhibition and is once again supporting an Innovation Zone where visitors can hear about the latest products being brought to market by entrepreneurial companies to achieve step changes in network performance. The Network Zone is targeted directly at energy networks and will provide a focused area in which network representatives and suppliers can mingle and exchange ideas. Several network operators across gas and electricity have also taken stands in this area to display and findings from recent funded innovation projects, creating hubs for ideas dissemination. The area will also increase visibility of key suppliers and their offerings through detailed technology demonstrations and white paper presentations. The Network Zone will also house the Innovation Zone, sponsored by the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC). The Innovation Zone was first introduced to Utility Week Live in 2015 and this year, with EIC's support, it brings more opportunities to connect with small and medium sized suppliers - a strong source of innovation, but one which network operators often find it difficult to communicate with. This show could help change that. Networks & iNNovatioN EVENT UTILIT Y WEEK LIVE Think, talk, do, live What's Utility Week Live got to offer in a time of sector transformation? W hether you're looking for intellectual stimulation, the chance to compare notes with peers or an opportunity to get hands on with new technology, Utility Week Live's got something for you this year. Brought to you as a collaborative effort by Utility Week and its sister titles across the water and energy industries – including Network – Utility Week Live is the UK's only exhibition dedicated to UK utility companies. As well as the exhibition, which features hundreds of technology and service providers seeking to establish and grow their partnerships with UK utilities, the show will once again offer an informative, thought-provoking and o•en challenging agenda of seminar and conference sessions. This content has wide appeal for a variety of job roles and always seeks to bring to life the biggest topics and challenges facing utility companies today. New for 2016 Utility Week Live 2016 will debut a range of new show features, responding to live challenges in the sector. These include: Technical Innovations Zone Streetworks Village Network Zone The Pumping Station The drilling and tapping competition will again provide a spectacle of practical talent. While the keynote conference agenda is designed to support long-term and strategic thinking among sector executives, free seminars on the exhibition floor will equip operations, technical, supply chain, procurement and HR leaders with the context- based knowledge they need to make the right technology choices, forge the right partnerships and understand workforce development challenges in the near and medium term. Three seminar theatres provide focused content for utility sector verticals – gas, power and water – and a fourth highlights pan-utility challenges with a particular emphasis on heat and streetworks. The headline theme for content at Utility Week Live 2016 is innovation, so the Innovation Zone returns, among a splash of new features at the show - including the Network Zone (see le•). This new show area is intended to support ideas sharing and the dissemination of innovation. Other core themes guiding the seminar and conference content this year include: data and analytics, customers, skills, totex and resilience. To book your free ticket, go to www.utilityweeklive.co.uk