Congratulations to the 2024 Energy & Utility Skills Awards Winners…
Skills Collaboration Initiative of the Year Award
Winners: Develop Training and Northern Gas Networks
Their collaboration led to the opening of a groundbreaking training centre designed to resemble a regular street, where courses on handling emergency gas incidents are delivered. This unique training environment has significantly enhanced the technical skills of operatives, ingrained a culture of safety and preparedness, and has better equipped the organisation to serve the community effectively.
Gas Industry Apprentice of the Year Award
Winner: Hannah Moseley-Brown, SGN
Hannah’s journey is an inspiring story of dedication and hard work, not only in achieving her qualification but also in her role. She has been taking huge steps in inclusivity, working with suppliers on the critical issue of making sure women throughout our industry have better personal protective equipment (PPE) for their job.
Attraction, Recruitment Campaign or Initiative of the Year Award
Winners: Cadent
Cadent’s exceptional campaign has been recognised for its alignment with the company’s mission and its impactful approach to attracting diverse talent.
This initiative brought together a cross-functional team, including HR, marketing, and diversity and inclusion specialists, to create meaningful change within the organisation.
With their impactful campaign, Cadent significantly increased applications from BAME backgrounds and females, demonstrating the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to diversity.
Waste Industry Apprentice of the Year Award
Winner: Pavithren Balakumar, Cory Group
Pavithren’s journey is a shining example of how an apprenticeship can offer a unique and valuable alternative to the traditional academic route.
What truly sets Pavithren apart is his outstanding dedication to promoting apprenticeships by volunteering at career events to inspire the next generation and also contributing to community sustainability projects.
Innovative Initiative of the Year Award
Winner: E.ON
E.ON has been recognised for their outstanding work in developing an innovative solution to improve their recruitment process.
Their forward-thinking approach is not only streamlining internal processes for the recruitment team but also enhancing the overall candidate experience and significantly reducing their drop out rate between application and online assessment.
Water Industry Apprentice of the Year Award
Winner: Meg Ginsberg, South West Water
Meg has proven to be an outstanding role model, showing incredible tenacity and focus in all that she does. She doesn’t let any obstacles stand in her way, demonstrating remarkable problem-solving skills and organisational abilities — qualities highly valued by any employer. Her dedication and perseverance make it clear that she will succeed in whatever she sets her mind to.
Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year Award
Winners: ScottishPower
ScottishPower has been honoured for their outstanding commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. Their initiative not only focuses on attracting diverse talent but also on creating a supportive and open workplace for everyone, including young people across the UK.
Their efforts have led to positive outcomes, reflecting a strong dedication to inclusivity and creating an environment where all individuals feel valued and supported.
Power Industry Apprentice of the Year Award
Winner: Andrew Hurdle, SSE
Andrew is a great example of the incredible opportunities that apprenticeships can offer for career growth and personal development. His dedication and effort have not only allowed him to excel in his role but also to go above and beyond in representing his company and inspiring others.
Andrew actively shares his experiences at careers fairs, encouraging others to join apprenticeship schemes and inspiring the next generation of engineers. He also supports fellow apprentices and motivates them to fully embrace their apprenticeship experience.
Training Provision of the Year Award
Winners: UK Power Networks
UK Power Networks’ craft apprenticeship programme stands out for its unrivalled pastoral care.
By placing apprentices’ welfare at the heart of its approach, UK Power Networks is building an outstanding pipeline of talent that thrives both personally and professionally.
Employer of the Year
Winners: Cadent
Cadent has been recognised for its exceptional commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace that puts employees at the core of its operations. With a fantastic range of initiatives, including comprehensive training, mentorship, and efforts to adapt working arrangements to individual needs, Cadent sets a high standard for what it means to be an excellent employer.
From supporting diverse groups, such as those with disabilities, the LGBT+ community, parents, and women’s health issues, to promoting a workforce that genuinely reflects the communities they serve, Cadent demonstrates its dedication to inclusion.
Outstanding Contribution Award
Winner: Clive Buggins
Clive has dedicated his career to training and development within the power industry and we have been fortunate to have his support with qualifications and programme developments for the National Skills Academy for Power and as a Chief Examiner for our Energy & Utilities Independent Assessment Service (EUIAS).
The Helen Hawkins Apprentice of the Year Award
Winner: Meg Ginsberg, South West Water
The award was named in memory of our colleague Helen Hawkins, who sadly lost to breast cancer in August 2023 and believed in the importance of apprenticeships.
