Interview: E.ON, Digital Technology Leaders Awards finalist
‘Delivering a seamless, digital-first experience for our customers while supporting the UK’s transition to net zero’
"One of the biggest challenges this year has been balancing rising customer expectations with the rapid pace of technological change."
In the fast-paced realm of IT, where innovation is everything and each advancement reshapes the landscape, staying ahead of the curve is both a challenge and an opportunity.
Computing's Digital Technology Leaders Awards offer a place to stand out, setting your work apart and showcasing your dedication to the industry’s future.
This year, we will announce the winners at a live ceremony on Thursday 3rd July in Central London.
E.ON, one of the finalists, has reached the shortlist for five categories: Development Team of the Year, Digital Ambassador of the Year, Engineer of the Year, Digital Project of the Year and Machine Learning / AI Project of the Year.
We caught up with Lee Durham, Director of Digital Technology at E.ON Next, to find out what are they working on this year.
Lee is an IT and digital professional with nearly 30 years of experience across multiple industries, including finance and retail, and has spent the past 16 years working within the energy and utilities sector. His focus is on delivering outstanding customer and colleague experiences through technology, building high-performing, empowered teams, and driving innovation that creates real impact.
Why do you think events like the Digital Technology Leaders Awards matter?
Lee Durham: Awards like the Digital Technology Leaders Awards are vital because they recognise and celebrate the impact that digital innovation has across industries. For E.ON UK, they provide a platform to benchmark ourselves against the best in the industry, share our achievements, and spotlight the talent and vision transforming the energy sector. These awards inspire excellence and foster collaboration by highlighting the value of technology in shaping a more sustainable and customer-focused future.
What would winning at these awards mean to your company?
Winning would be a tremendous validation of the hard work and commitment of our digital, data, and technology teams. It would reaffirm our leadership in using digital solutions to drive sustainability and customer empowerment. Recognition from such a respected body would energise our people and strengthen our ambition to innovate further in service of customers, communities, and the planet.
What would you say is your company’s proudest achievement over the past year?
Our proudest achievement has been delivering a seamless, digital-first experience for our customers while supporting the UK’s transition to net zero. This includes launching new digital tools that help customers better understand and manage their energy usage, enhancing our smart metering capabilities, and equipping our colleagues to continue delivering an exceptional customer experience.
We have also used data science to develop innovative propositions and improve both operational efficiency and service. All of this has been achieved while maintaining reliability and trust in a challenging and fast-moving energy landscape.
What have been the biggest challenges of 2025 so far and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges this year has been balancing rising customer expectations with the rapid pace of technological change. We have had to adapt quickly to evolving digital behaviours while ensuring that our systems remain secure, scalable, and sustainable.
Our people have been instrumental in this success. They have demonstrated agility, creativity, and resilience. Through a culture of continuous learning and collaboration, we have empowered our teams to deliver impactful digital solutions at speed.
How do you think the market has changed over the past year and what changes do you think it still needs to make?
Over the past year, the IT sector has matured in its understanding of the importance of customer experience, data ethics and sustainability in technology. There has been a shift towards more agile, cross-functional delivery models and a growing emphasis on inclusivity in design.
However, the channel still needs to do more to tackle digital inequality, embed green IT practices, and ensure that innovation benefits everyone, not just those who are tech-savvy or well-connected.
What do you see as the main opportunities in the coming year? How do you plan to capitalise on those opportunities?
The main opportunities lie in harnessing artificial intelligence responsibly, advancing data-driven personalisation, and scaling platforms that enable customers to participate actively in the energy transition. We plan to capitalise on these opportunities by continuing to invest in digital skills, strategic partnerships, and modern technologies that support our net zero goals. Collaboration across the broader technology ecosystem will be essential in ensuring that we remain at the forefront of delivering clean and smart energy solutions.
The Digital Technology Leaders Awards will take place on 3rd July in London. Click here to view the shortlist.