At SolarAid, we work to ensure that everyone has access to clean, safe solar light, particularly in communities without reliable electricity. With around 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still living without power, the role of the solar industry in addressing last-mile energy access has never been more important.
To create positive impact it takes more than shared interest, it relies on partnerships built on common ground, clear purpose, and collaboration.
Solar & Storage Live is a great example of how a corporate partnership can add value to both partners and come to life in an engaging, inspiring and tangible way. Here are four things that we have learned that strengthen corporate partnerships, and how this came to life through our work with Solar & Storage Live.
1. A shared mission
Strong partnerships start with alignment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean being in the same sector.
For us, it’s about working with organisations that connect to our mission, whether through sustainability, social impact, or expanding opportunity. A shared purpose can cross industries.
With Solar & Storage Live, that alignment is built in. The audience, exhibitors, and the wider event are all connected to the same space we work in, alongside a shared belief in the power of clean energy to improve lives.
2. Engagement
Strong partnerships create opportunities to engage people in a meaningful way.
It’s not just about reaching an audience, but about how they respond, whether they’re interested enough to stop, ask questions, and get involved. That’s what turns visibility into partnership.
Through Solar & Storage Live, we’re able to engage people who are already invested in the industry, whether they’re new to the issue SolarAid tackles or already familiar. That creates better conversations and makes it easier to build connections that lead to real support.
3. Collaborative relationship
It’s highly valuable to have multiple ways to show up and talk about our work, beyond being listed as a partner on a website.
It’s not just about financial support. It’s about being given a platform, building visibility with the right audience, and having layered opportunities to engage, whether that’s sharing our story, celebrating milestones, or connecting with new supporters.
Solar & Storage Live created opportunities through their awards, silent auctions, interviews, and networking events, all of which have helped raise our profile and bring our mission to life.
4. Long-term commitment
The most impactful partnerships don’t happen quickly, they take time to build trust and understanding.
Over time, the relationship becomes less transactional and more collaborative, there’s a stronger sense of shared progress, and a genuine investment in each other’s work. That’s when it starts to feel like an extension of the team, rather than a one-off collaboration.
ABOUT SOLAR & STORAGE LIVE PARTNERSHIP, A REFLECTION FROM TASHA ALEXANDER
Events like Solar & Storage Live London, one of the UK’s largest renewable energy exhibitions, bring together the global solar industry, and create an important space to connect that innovation with the need for energy access.
SolarAid’s partnership with Solar & Storage Live began in 2024, built on a shared belief that the transition to solar must include access for everyone. Our role is to help bridge that gap, connecting solar innovation with communities still living without access to power.
Photo: Solar & Storage Live
In my role as Corporate Fundraising and Engagement Officer at SolarAid, this was my first time attending the event. It was great to see SolarAid represented alongside some of the industry’s biggest players, helping to raise awareness and build relationships across the sector. What stood out most was how naturally SolarAid fitted into the wider conversation.
The SolarAid team always look forward to attending Solar & Storage Live events to host our one-hour meet up sessions as it gives us a dedicated space to connect with both exhibitors and visitors face-to-face, share more about our mission, and talk about the impact we’re making together with our corporate partners.
It was great to see how the meet up session drew a lot of attention from some of the biggest names in the solar industry, showing interest, keen to understand more about our work and how to get involved. It was clear we were not introducing SolarAid, we were building on awareness that was already there.
Engaging discussions around last-mile energy access were a reminder that this is not just a side issue, it’s increasingly being recognised as part of the wider solar story and that’s where SolarAid has a real role to play.
What really brought the shared purpose to life was seeing people interact with the solar lights themselves. You can talk about energy access all day, but having the same small solar light in front of you, that is being used in rural sub-Saharan Africa, changes the conversation. It made the impact feel real and grounded everything we were discussing.
ELEVATING EVENTS/PARTNERSHIPS
This year, we were also able to further elevate our partnership. The fantastic Solar & Storage team launched of a pre-show 5km fun run. It was great to see organisers and exhibitors getting involved, running around the ExCeL and raising money for our work.
The run brought everyone together in a relaxed, informal way as a chance to connect, have fun, and re-energise ahead of a busy show. It also showed how people are willing to actively support energy access, not just talk about it. If you like to support the runners, donate here.
If you didn’t catch us at Solar & Storage Live London, we hope to see you at the Birmingham show this September.
For everyone attending Solar & Storage Live España on May 27th, we hope you have a fantastic and productive show. We won’t be there in person but keep an eye out for SolarAid’s branding along the way. Tickets to the show are free but if you haven’t already, please register here.
GET INVOLVED
If you’d like to explore how you or your company can support clean, affordable energy access, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected]