With recess over and Westminster officially back in action, hundreds of politicians, businesses, councillors and public affairs consultants have been gearing up for the start of conference season. This weekend Birmingham hosted the party everyone is talking about, with Reform staging its largest and most closely watched conference to date.

While still viewed with caution, the conference has moved from fringe to a recognised moment in the political calendar. The atmosphere was jubilant, with Farage hailing record membership and a mood of inevitability about electoral success. Engagement is increasingly viewed as unavoidable as they rise sharply in the polls and prior reluctance to be publicly associated with the party is starting to ease, with household names including Heathrow taking headline promotional space at the conference.

For the energy sector, particularly renewables, this rise poses a difficult question – whether, when, and how, to engage with a party whose policy platform is directly antagonistic to clean power.

Growing prominence

Reform has built its energy platform around opposition to net zero, pledging to end renewable subsidies, introduce new taxes on wind and solar, and halt battery storage developments. Alongside this, it promises to fast-track North Sea licences and trial shale gas production. However, what began as broad messaging is now being framed in more detailed policy terms, and outright threats to renewables developers about the security of their contracts with government in the event of a Reform win.

Indeed, at the conference, the party and its delegates progressed beyond rhetoric, with conversations dominated by repeats of ‘drill baby drill’, attacks on Ed Miliband and partnerships with climate-sceptic groups. Most importantly, attendees voted to repeal the 2008 Climate Change Act and abolish the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, replacing it with a new ‘Energy Security Group’. Both Farage and Richard Tice continue to own the anti-net zero message, couching it in policy language around energy security, investment conditions and the role of domestic fossil fuel production.

Practical uncertainties

Energy companies, particularly those operating in the renewables space, now face a difficult calculation. Engagement offers intelligence on a party that is reshaping the political narrative around energy bills and security, and which already holds levers of influence at council and mayoral level. It also offers the chance to stress test what policy substance there is beneath the broad messaging. Whilst the general election is still four years away, with the party consistently leading in the polls and Farage insisting the next election could come within two

years, engaging now may offer a first mover’s advantage, given that much of the Reform policy platform remains under development.

Disengagement on a sector-wide level carries a risk itself. If the majority decline to participate, Reform’s policy will be informed by those industries more willing to fill the vacuum. That could entrench positions further against renewables, creating additional blockers for projects at both national and local level.

However, the challenges are notable. Visible association with a party defined by opposition to net zero still presents complications, but just as important are the practical uncertainties: Reform’s structures remain publicly thin, with little clarity on responsibilities, points of contact, or how policy is developed beyond headline statements. However, this is beginning to change with the advent of policy think tanks such as the Centre for a Better Britain, as well Reform’s new energy adviser, who could become a crucial touchpoint for industry in the years ahead.

Key considerations

· Impact on national rhetoric: Reform is shaping UK-wide discourse on bills, energy security, and net zero costs. Even if it falls short of government, its pressure is forcing Labour and the Conservatives to recalibrate.

· Local influence: With nearly 700 councillors and control of 12 councils, Reform can already affect planning and permitting for energy infrastructure.

· Future proofing: Consistently leading the polls, the chance of Reform winning the next election are significant – engaging now may offer the advantage of early influence while policy positions are still malleable.

Any engagement must be carefully framed. Arguments for renewables should be made in terms of cost, security and jobs, rather than climate alone – for example, rooftop solar as a means of reducing import exposure and strengthening domestic resilience, or the role of renewables industries in providing employment opportunities in areas that Reform is looking to win seats. Companies should also be explicit that policy and investment stability is non-negotiable, and that undermining core sector principles could raise bills and weaken security – the very issues Reform looks to prioritise, and thus more likely to resonate with decision-makers.

What comes next

The conference, celebratory and carried by a sense that victory was already secured, came as the party continues to enjoy strong polling and increasing interest from corporates, whilst also sharpening its energy policy positions and appointing a specialist energy adviser. Together, these moves have significant implications on business relations with the party.

For energy companies, engagement with Reform should centre around protecting projects, maintaining investment conditions, and ensuring that the value of various technologies is

heard across the political landscape. Careful, evidence-led engagement – local first and framed around bills and security – will be essential if the sector is to manage both the risks and the opportunities of Reform’s rise. The months ahead will test whether this approach can shape the party’s stance, or whether renewables will be pushed further to the margins as Reform seeks to drive a wedge into the prior net zero consensus.