Marking three decades of collaboration between utility buyers and suppliers through the UK’s established pre-qualification and risk management community.
London, UK — UVDB powered by Achilles celebrated 30 years of UVDB yesterday evening at the Victory Services Club in London. The event brought together utility leaders and suppliers to celebrate three decades of collaboration, innovation and the partnerships that continue to underpin the UK’s utility supply chains.
Established in 1996, UVDB (Utilities Vendor Database) was introduced to help utility organisations comply with European Procurement Directives through a common supplier pre-qualification system. Powered by Achilles, the network has since evolved in response to changes in EU directives, UK procurement law following the UK’s departure from the European Union, and the needs of its members. Milestones include the introduction of UVDB Verify in 1998 and the move to the MyAchilles platform in 2020.
Today, the network brings together approximately 70 major buyers, including large energy infrastructure companies such as the National Grid and SSE, alongside thousands of suppliers. It provides utility organisations with a shared framework for assessing supplier capabilities and risks, while helping suppliers to demonstrate their credentials to potential customers.
The evening celebrations featured key industry stakeholders, including Pam Brown, Chair of the UVDB community, and Tony Underwood, Achilles Ambassador, alongside Katie Ferrier, Regional Director at Achilles.
The anniversary event reflected on how utility supply chains have transformed over the past three decades and examined the trends defining their future – including major infrastructure investment, the 2035 low-carbon power system target, supply chain resilience, digitalisation, and the growing importance of robust ESG performance.
Commenting on the anniversary, Pam Brown, Chair of the UVDB community, said:
“Yesterday we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the creation of the UVDB.
Looking forward to the future, the community and Achilles, the UVDB’s partner of choice, are fully engaged and committed to provide a rigorous qualification process to drive consistency and compliance through the purchasing process and contract management activity.
We are ready for the future!”
Katie Ferrier, Regional Director at Achilles, added:
“For 30 years, UVDB has brought utility companies and suppliers together around a shared ambition: to build supply chains the sector can depend on. Achilles is proud to have powered that journey and to have grown alongside a community whose experience and commitment continue to shape the network.
That partnership matters as much today as it did in 1996. Delivering the next generation of utilities infrastructure will depend on buyers and suppliers having confidence in one another. Our focus is on strengthening those relationships and providing members with the insight they need to manage risk and deliver the projects that will shape the sector’s future.”
The celebration comes at a time when utility organisations face growing pressure to strengthen supply chain visibility, manage emerging risks, and support the transition to a more sustainable future. With the utilities sector carrying a complex global supply chain that accounts for an estimated 90% of its emissions, UVDB is uniquely positioned to help members meet these challenges head-on—particularly through tools like the Carbon Management Module, which is actively driving Scope 3 reductions across the network
Further Information:
Hayley van Leeuwen
Chief Marketing Officer, Achilles
Hayley.vanleeuwen@achilles.com
BlytheRay
Public Relations
About UVDB
UVDB Powered by Achilles is a supplier pre-qualification and risk management community used across the UK utilities sector. It provides 68 utility organisations with a consistent way to identify, assess and monitor over 6,200 suppliers, while enabling suppliers to demonstrate their capabilities, compliance and credentials through a single qualification process. UVDB helps reduce procurement complexity, improve supply chain visibility and support better risk management across areas including health and safety, sustainability, quality and operational performance. It also gives suppliers greater visibility to utility buyers, helping them access new opportunities across the sector.
About Achilles
For more than 35 years, Achilles has protected organisations’ business interests and reputations by providing unrivalled levels of supply chain transparency, carbon reduction and management. Achilles is the supply chain risk, ESG and carbon management partner of choice for the world’s leading global brands.
Achilles specialises in supporting customers who require robust global supply chain resilience, risk management and reporting to comply with ESG regulations, meet investor requirements, and achieve ambitious sustainability goals. works with market-leading financial, industrial, commercial and governmental organisations that require serious, detailed analysis and expert insight to deliver exceptional supplier selection and reporting confidence. Operating from 22 locations worldwide, Achilles is at the forefront of the battle against climate change, a champion for social justice and human rights, and an expert in health, safety, and risk management.
