Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1033088
NETWORK / 13 / OCTOBER 2018 Apprentice of the Year With the energy and engineering industry facing a major and growing shortage of skills, apprenticeship schemes have never been more important. Networks and their partners are leading the way in bringing new talent into the industry, and this award will recognise the industry's stars of the future. The judges will be looking for: ● Apprentices that are in the process of or have recently completed accredited ap- prenticeships with a network or one of their partners ● Apprentices that have already made a quan- tifi able contribution to the business and/ or its customers and other stakeholders, that goes beyond the requirements of their course ● Evidence of passion for and commitment to a career in energy networks. Health and Safety Initiative of the Year This award recognises exceptional commitment to all-round health and safety by a company or organisation within the industry. Entrants must demonstrate an innovative, robust and high-quality safety management system and evidence of health and safety performance that goes beyond statutory requirements. The judges will be looking for: ● An initiative that successfully improved health and safety performance, of either staff or the general public, or both ● Evidence that this initiative is supported by a strong health and safety culture within the business ● Evidence that the initiative will have ongoing health and safety benefi ts for the business's workforce, partners and customers. Engineering Project of the Year Solving engineering challenges is often at the core of the network industry's work. This award recognises the engineering project that best demonstrates how technical skills, teamwork and innovative thinking have combined in a solution to a problem that has resulted in last- ing benefi ts to service provision, customers or the environment. The judges will be looking for: ● Evidence of quantifi able benefi t to the business and its customers, and/or other stakeholders ● Evidence of innovation and a creative ap- proach to technical problem scaling ● Evidence of ambition. The Smart Cities Award Collaboration between infrastructure provid- ers and the smart planning and operation of urban centres has never been more important. Energy networks are one of the key partners in delivering the cities of the future, where technology will enable the most effi cient use of scarce and expensive resources. However, smart cities are in their early stages, with roles and responsibilities not yet clear. Therefore, it is up to pioneers in smart city planning and operation to take the initiative – and this award will recognise those who have done just that. The judges will be looking for: ● An initiative that will demonstrably further the planning and/or delivery of smart city infrastructure ● An initiative that can demonstrate collabora- tive working and innovation ● An initiative that can demonstrate quantifi - able benefi ts for customers, businesses and Stakeholder Engagement Initiative of the Year Stakeholder engagement is a core element of RIIO1, with signifi cant reputational and fi nancial incentives. The enhanced emphasis on engagement under the RIIO framework has led to better engagement between network companies and their stakeholders. This award recognises breakthroughs in stakeholder engagement, and seeks examples of where networks have gone above and beyond their statutory requirements. The judges will be looking for: ● Quantifi able evidence of how engagement has benefi ted stakeholders ● Evidence of going beyond regulatory require- ments and business as usual ● Evidence of how the engagement, or the learnings/benefi ts from the engagement, will be embedded into the business in future. Data Project of the Year The emergence of 'big data' presents signifi - cant challenges and opportunities to networks and their partners. Networks need effec- tive systems that make the right information available to the right people at the right time. Working closely with IT, technology and com- munications companies and through human resource training, networks can make rapid improvements to their effi ciency and cost base by strategic use of data. Best practice will be recognised for data projects and technologies that produce effi ciency gains, customer benefi t, safer working, cost reductions, more sustain- able outcomes. The judges will be looking for: ● Quantifi able evidence of how the project ben- efi ted the business and its customers and/or other stakeholders ● Evidence of innovation that goes beyond business as usual ● Learnings for the wider industry.