It is time to recognise the top talent in the utilities industry at the Utility Week Stars Awards.

In June, the acclaimed Utility Week Stars Awards will be back, and bigger and better than ever as we celebrate the crucial contributions of frontline and back office staff from across the utility sectors.

We will be honouring the unsung heroes of the energy and water networks who, day after day, go above and beyond the call of duty to deliver these vital services to homes and businesses, making a real difference to people’s lives.

Shortlisted companies were selected following a tough judging process which whittled down a record number of award entries.

All categories were heavily subscribed with especially strong entries in the innovation and rising star awards – reflecting the critical challenges utility companies face in adapting to the future and recruiting tomorrow’s talent.

Several companies have been shortlisted across multiple categories with SGN in the running for seven different awards, Northumbrian Water for five awards and Electricity Northwest for three.

Recognising the essential part that contractor play in delivery utility services, there is also a strong showing from engineering and utility service providers including Morrison Utility Services, McNicholas Construction Services and Balfour Beatty.

The winners will be announced at a lunch time summer party on 17 June at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester. The event will offer recognition of hard work and success before industry peers and leaders as well as entertainment and a chance for teams to celebrate. Table bookings are now open.

For more information, visit: www.utilityweekstars.co.uk

The shortlist

Big Bang Award for Innovation

•    Future Networks team, SP Energy Networks

•    Innovation team, SGN

•    My Electric Avenue (MEA) project team, Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

•    Smart Services team, Ovo Energy

•    The Fault Support Centre (FSC) team, Electricity North West

•    Smartest Energy

Constellation Awards for collaborative work with a customer community

•    Water Rangers project team, Northumbrian Water

•    Emergency, Respond and Repair within the Stakeholder Delivery team, National Grid

•    Mo Bates and Shona Horn, Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

•    Severn Trent Water in partnership with NMCNomenca Catchment Management Team, South East Water

•    South West Water in partnership with Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN)

•    The Power Saver Challenge, Electricity North West

Constellation Awards for collaborative work with education

•    Crucial crew and Schools engagement Initiative, National Grid Gas

•    Om Foundation School and Deep Griha Academy, EXL & British Gas

•    Inspiring Young Talent initiative, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

•    Make the Grade initiative, Northern Powergrid

•    SGN in partnership with Outward Bound Trust

Customer Culture Award

•    Customer Change function team, UK Power Networks

•    Customer Voice programme, British Gas

•    Ovo’s Field Force team, Ovo Energy

•    The Communications and Call Centre teams, Electricity North West

•    The London Customer Team, National Grid

•    The training team, Spark Energy

Data Demon Award

•    Business Support Group’s Hot Seat Team, Yorkshire Water

•    Performance & Information Team, Northumbrian Water

•    The Asset Capture project team, SGN

•    WIIM development team, Northern Ireland Water

•    WWU AVL Team, Wales & West Utilities

Health and Safety Champion – Initiative

•    Lone Worker Protection initiative, Northumbrian Water

•    ASSIST initiative British Gas

•    Carbon Monoxide (CO) awareness strategy, SGN

•    McNicholas Safety Day, McNicholas Construction Services (in partnership with Phoenix Natural Gas and Firmus Energy)

•    Safety Champions initiative, Northern Powergrid

•    Zero Harm Programme, Affinity Water

Health and Safety Champion – Individual

•    Dave Mossom, SGN

•    David Hume, Balfour Beatty – Power Transmission & Distribution

•    Diane Somerville, Northumbrian Water

•    James Briggs, SP Energy Networks

•    James Osborne, Morrison Utility Services

•    Stephen Hewings, Morrison Utility Services

Hero Award – Individual

•    Chris Bielby, SGN

•    Howard Lewis, Affinity Water

•    Kevin Anderson, Electricity North West

•    Mark Pickles, National Grid

•    Paul Wild, Linbrooke Services

Hero Award – Team

•    Scottish Water

•    Andy Pope and Mate Boyd Johanesen, Morrison Utility Services

•    Customer care team, Northumbrian Water Group

•    Dunfermline depot team, SGN

•    Scientific services team, South East Water

•    TVS Supply Chain Solutions in partnership with Electricity North West

Rising Star Award

•    Aimee Mowat, National Grid

•    Keely McNiffe, Anglian Water

•    Lucy Keil, Anglian Water

•    Caroline Carslaw, SSE Energy

•    Sammy-Jo Evans, UK Power Networks

•    Thomas Nicholson, Balfour Beatty – Power Transmission & Distribution

Shooting Star Award

•    Claire Thomson, Northumbrian Water Group

•    Gareth Loye, M&M Contractors

•    James McStravóg, McNicholas Construction Services (in partnership with Phoenix Natural Gas, Firmus Energy and SGN)

•    Mark Mills, Portsmouth Water

•    Michael Pullin, Ovo Energy

•    Simon Gallagher, UK Power Networks

Supernova Award for Long Service

•    David Slarks, Thames Water Utilities

•    Graham Smith, UK Power Networks

•    Ian Kersey, Balfour Beatty – Power Transmission & Distribution

•    John Hewitt, Utility and Construction Training

•    John Pearson, Morrison Utility Services

•    Steve Thornton, SGN