Enhancing Network Safety and Community Engagement
UIS Tooling & Technologies has been proud to support Cadent in the rollout of our multi-award-winning Valve Trak system across North London. This collaborative project formed part of Cadent’s wider “Services Beyond the Meter” initiative, designed to improve customer engagement and strengthen safety within multi-occupancy and high-rise properties.
Working closely with Cadent’s MOBs (multi-occupancy buildings) and customer teams, UIS provided the technical expertise, installation, and commissioning support needed to successfully deploy Valve Trak devices across selected sites in Newham and Tower Hamlets.
Project Background
Cadent’s goal was twofold – to trial new methods for improving underground valve traceability, and to use that trial as a way to start meaningful conversations with residents about safety, carbon monoxide awareness, and energy efficiency.
UIS was appointed as the delivery partner to install and commission Valve Trak, ensuring each system was integrated safely and efficiently into Cadent’s existing network.n made it ideally suited for installation within existing underground valve chambers.
Delivering the Solution
he UIS team worked alongside Michael Greene, MOBs Customer Manager, during the deployment process, which included:
- Pre-installation surveys and site access planning
- Supply and delivery of Valve Trak units
- On-site installation and configuration
- Commissioning and calibration checks
- Operator training and ongoing technical support
Installation of each Valve Trak unit typically took just a few minutes, with minimal disruption. The system’s compact design, Bluetooth connectivity, and ATEX Zone 0 certification made it ideally suited for installation within existing underground valve chambers.
Results and Impact
The partnership produced impressive results across both operational and social metrics:
- Improved safety and traceability: Valve Trak provided precise GPS-based valve location data, improving response times for emergency isolations.
- Increased customer engagement: The installation programme created over 2,000 face-to-face conversations with residents and reached many more through leaflets and SMS communications.
- Measurable social value: Cadent reported a social return of £40 for every £1 spent, demonstrating that investment in both technology and community engagement delivers tangible results.
Feedback from Cadent teams was overwhelmingly positive – the project not only improved safety performance but also strengthened relationships between engineers and local communities.
Working Together for Safer Networks
Matt Cornwell, Head of MOBs for North London said “This has been a significant investment of around £1million in this trial. The UIS Valve Trak unit has enabled us to enhance the safety measures we can put in place for high-rise buildings but also improve the customer experience of those living in high-rise buildings too. Engineers often face issues of inaccessibility and time-consuming searches and in an emergency, when swift action is paramount, the inability to promptly pinpoint the precise location of a gas valve could lead to critical delays in isolating the supply”.
UIS shares Cadent’s commitment to combining innovation with people-focused delivery. This collaboration highlights how Valve Trak can deliver operational benefits while also enabling broader community impact – a reflection of UIS’s ongoing mission to help utilities work smarter, safer, and more efficiently.
Looking Ahead
With Phase 1 in North London successfully completed, Cadent has already extended the Valve Trak rollout into further regions as part of the next investment cycle.
UIS Tooling & Technologies will continue to provide full technical and operational support throughout these future deployments – ensuring consistent performance, reliability, and value as the programme expands.
About Valve Trak
Valve Trak is a retrofit, ATEX Zone 0-rated, IP68-sealed device designed to enhance visibility and control of underground gas pipeline isolation valves. It combines Bluetooth connectivity, GPS tracking, and a ruggedised design to give operators full traceability and confidence in critical network assets.
UIS Tooling & Technologies is proud to work in partnership with leading gas network operators like Cadent, supporting their mission to deliver safe, reliable, and customer-focused energy services across the UK.
