How do you enthuse your managers and make them feel passionate about your company's goals and strategy?

That was the challenge we faced last year when considering how to make our Changing Energy strategy come to life for our managers. We knew that if we gave them an understanding of the impact it will have on all of our lives, they would want to become ambassadors, taking the message into our business.

Around 1,800 of our managers attended our Changing Energy in Action day. Held at the NEC in Birmingham, this was the biggest internal event in the history of our company. Greeting our managers when they arrived at the NEC was a glimpse of the future through our Changing Energy Virtual Village. Taking up most of the 16,700 square meters of NEC's Hall 4, this provided the 'WOW' factor, with each part of our business having the opportunity to showcase all of the work they are doing to change energy. From smart meters that can be read remotely and tell us how much energy we're using, to our latest electric vehicles, from state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology to our FA Cup sponsorship, managers were able to see for themselves how everything fits into the bigger picture of our Changing Energy strategy. Many of the displays were interactive, allowing delegates to try things out for themselves. With their enthusiasm fired up by what they'd seen in the village, delegates were given the challenge: what else can we do to change energy? A three-hour workshop was used to 'think radically, think different' and come up with more ideas that could revolutionise the way we make and use energy. The pick of 1,600 ideas are now being looked at in more depth. These included a hotel style key to switch off all appliances when leaving home and a 'Changing Rooms' style Changing Energy TV show.

Another key element was the launch of SwitchedOn, our innovative, interactive e-learning tool that brings Changing Energy to life for all our employees from the convenience of their own desk. Delegates were able to try it all out for themselves, to see how effectively it explains each step of the way to Changing Energy and how every single person in our business has a part to play.

To round off the day, our Chief Executive Paul Golby made three major Changing Energy promises on behalf of our business:

• That we would offset the 45,000 tonnes of carbon the 2007/8 FA Cup sponsored by E.ON is expected to produce
• That we would no longer use vehicles with high emissions as part of our fleet
• That we would fit one of the UK's largest solar panel installation at our Coventry   Head Office

We are now on the way to meeting all three of these commitments. Feedback from the event was extremely positive; we sent all delegates a survey to find out the extent of their understanding of and commitment to, Changing Energy as a result of attending the event.

• Nearly 90% said that they had a clearer understanding of our vision for Changing Energy
• Almost 100% thought that our virtual village provided a good source of information on everything that’s happening across our business to change energy
• Nearly three-quarters thought that the workshops helped broaden their own thinking on Changing Energy