Utility industry’s finest celebrated at Utility Week Stars Awards

The winners of the Utility Week Stars Awards 2016 were named at a ceremony in Manchester on Friday 17 June.

UK Power Networks had the most successful day at the awards scoring a hat trick across the Customer Culture, Rising Star and Long Service categories. Its victory in the latter category was tied with gas distribution network SGN who also won the Data Demon award for its asset capture project.

The Utility Week Stars Awards, sponsored by Ombudsman Services, are designed to recognised the unsung heroes of the utilities industry – the men and women working in key operational, service and support roles.

The contribution made by all awards finalists to the continued delivery of essential services to domestic and business customers across the UK was recognised at the event by Nick Ellins, chief executive of Energy Utility Skills Group, who also acted as a judge for the awards.

Speaking prior to the awards entertainment from comedian Funmbi Omotayo, Ellins said raised concerns about the future skills profile of the industry as it evolves to meet changing customer expectations, technology and regulation. He congratulated guests on their resilience in the face of these challenges and shared news about the ways in which EU Skills Group is seeking to relieve skills pressures through the delivery of new training standards, skills accords and talent matching services.

In their third year, the awards enjoyed a record breaking level of entries and attendance. A full list of the winners is available below:

Big Bang Award for Innovation
Future Networks team, SP Energy Networks

Constellation Awards for collaborative work with a customer community
Mo Bates and Shona Horn, Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Constellation Awards for collaborative work with education
Inspiring Young Talent’ initiative, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water 

Customer Culture Award
Customer Change function team, UK Power Networks

Data Demon Award
The Asset Capture project team, SGN

Health and Safety Champion – Initiative
McNicholas Safety Day, McNicholas Construction Services

Health and Safety Champion – Individual
James Osborne, Morrison Utility Services

Hero Award – Individual
Mark Pickles, National Grid

Rising Star Award
Sammy-Jo Evans, UK Power Networks
Caroline Carslaw, SSE Energy

Shooting Star Award
James McStravóg, McNicholas Construction Services Limited

Supernova Award for Long Service
Steve Thornton, SGN 
Graham Smith, UK Power Networks 

The Utility Week Awards, are also now open for entry. These flagship awards for Utility Week are held every december and attract over 1,500 guests including the most senior executives, policy makers and regulators in the sector.