Business Areas
Design, Build & Run (DBR)
What we do
Today we’re designing, building and running the network that connects millions of smart meters across Britain.
Design, Build & Run (DBR) is Smart DCC’s largest business area. These teams create, develop and operate the secure national data network that underpins Britain’s smart energy system and enables millions of smart meters to communicate reliably every day.
DBR brings together the people responsible for designing scalable solutions, delivering complex change, testing technology to the highest standards and running the live network safely and reliably. Their work spans the full lifecycle of the services that keep data flowing between homes, businesses and the wider energy industry. It is varied, technically challenging and critical to national infrastructure.
Working collaboratively with partners, service providers and colleagues across Smart DCC, DBR ensures the network evolves with industry needs and regulatory needs. As we prepare for our transition to a not-for-profit organisation, DBR plays a key role in delivering improvements that create long-term value for customers and strengthen the impact and resilience of the energy network.
People who succeed in DBR are curious, collaborative and passionate about solving complex problems. They thrive on a challenge, enjoy working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and seeing how their work contributes to something meaningful.
View DBR JobsOur sub-teams
Business Operations
The Business Operations team collaborates with colleagues across Design, Build & Run and wider DCC enabling functions, to drive overall effectiveness. Working across programmes, people and processes, they create the clarity, structure and rhythm that helps DCC deliver confidently at national scale.
From planning and reporting to finance and governance, they bring consistency to fast-paced environments where precision, adaptability and collaboration matter. By strengthening risk management and simplifying processes, they make it easier for people to focus on delivery.
They also play a central role in how colleagues work and thrive, championing ways of working that strengthens engagement, supports teamwork and builds a shared sense of achievement across the organisation. Their work supports every successful programme, giving colleagues the structure, insight and backing they need to collaborate effectively and deliver at national scale.
Our sub-teams
Change & Delivery
The Change & Delivery team leads programmes and projects that introduce change across the DCC network, making sure new capabilities move smoothly from planning and testing into live operations.
At the heart of Smart DCC, the team connects Design, Build and Run, acting as the glue that holds complex change together and keeps delivery moving as the network grows. With a network-wide view of planned initiatives, they coordinate activity, remove barriers and support teams through every stage of implementation.
Their work ensures change is delivered on time, within budget, in line with customer and regulatory commitments and embedded successfully into day-to-day operations.
Our sub-teams
Contract & In-Life Supplier Management
The Contract & Supplier Management team works closely with partners across a wide supplier network, managing performance and building strong, trusted relationships that support Britain’s smart energy system.
By balancing commercial rigour with long-term value, the team manages risk, strengthens resilience and ensures investment delivers real benefit for customers and consumers.
Working collaboratively with suppliers and internal teams, they make sure obligations are met, services continue to improve and every commercial decision supports the reliability and long-term strength of the national network - today and tomorrow.
Our sub-teams
Operations
The Operations team helps millions of homes and businesses get connected and stay connected.
They run and enhance the Smart Meter Network, supporting the rollout of over 53 million smart meters to date, and manage the UK’s switching capability — a critical function that helps homes and businesses move seamlessly between energy suppliers. By monitoring performance, managing incidents and working closely with customers, the team keeps services running securely, reliably and at scale.
Through their close partnerships with our customers, suppliers and colleagues across Smart DCC they safeguard Britains smart network today, and shape the connected homes of tomorrow.
Our sub-teams
Technology Office - Engineering and Architecture
The Technology Office team integrates systems and partner technology to build and maintain the network that DCC - and Britain, needs now and tomorrow.
Our remit is a wide one. Huge, infact. We build enterprise architecture solutions the DCC needs to get the job done. We Liaise with customers, working closely with technology delivery partners and baking in governance, security and compliance in all that we do.
Our sub-teams
Lifecycle Management
The Service Lifecycle team sits at the heart of how we design, deliver and evolve the services that power Britain’s energy future, shaping the end-to-end journey of major service families from strategy and design through to in-life management and continuous improvement.
Working closely with technology, commercial, operations and regulatory colleagues, the team ensures every service is future-ready, well governed and delivering real value for customers, consumers and the wider energy ecosystem.
It’s complex, high-impact work that underpins national programmes, offering the opportunity to influence change, build expertise and shape services that matter to millions.
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