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utIlIty WEEK | 11th - 17th July 2014 | 9 Interview Staff Development Award: United Utilities United Utilities was "delighted" at bagging the Staff Development Award for its work in developing science, engineering, technology and maths skills throughout its staff base. Louise Beardmore, head of organisational development and change at the water com- pany, collected the award alongside business services director Sally Cabrini. "The learning and development func- tion have worked really hard in developing and improving the services and capabilities of our people," says Beardmore," so it was great to get recognition externally too." United's secret for success was in scrupu- lously logging and demonstrating tangible benefits its programme was having over the three years it had been up and running. Team of the Year: Npower Jaws dropped among the Npower team when it was announced it had won the highest accolade in utility teamwork for its graduate initiative. Susan Taylor, marketing executive at Npower, says: "It was a complete surprise to win the award. So much so, that when the winner was announced the team looked around at each other, with pure shock on all of our faces. We hadn't even discussed who would go on stage if we won." Taylor says new entrants for this year's awards should not be afraid of applying. "If a project is a great achievement to you, then the Utility Week judges will be able to appreciate the hard work you put in." Environment Award: Paul Grimwood, Northumbrian Water Northumbrian Water's innovative sludge treatment reed bed system, winner of the Environment award, "proves that taking risks can pay off ". According to project manager Paul Grim- wood, it would have been "far easier" to adopt the tried and tested methods of treat- ing sludge. However, Northumbrian Water came up with a different solution at its Hanningheld reservoir, near Chelmsford, which will save 70 tonnes of CO 2 emissions a year, compared with the traditional system. Grimwood says the award was "recogni- tion for the leap of faith they had taken to develop and deliver this world first, innova- tive project". Community Initiative of the Year: Oliver Rogers and Jane Morland, Northumbrian Water Winning the award for Community Initiative of the Year will "live long in the memory" due to the "huge" nature of the event and the large number of people watching, according to Northumbrian Water's communications adviser, Oliver Rogers. "It highlights the achievement of getting 54 per cent of our employees engaged and active in our Just an Hour campaign," he says. Jane Morland, corporate responsibility team leader, says "I felt honoured to accept the award on behalf of over 1,600 employees who have made a difference in their local communities through our programme." Capital Project Management Award: Fulcrum Utility Week Achievement Award debu- tantes Fulcrum made a flying start last year, winning the Capital project management award for its gas works at the London 2012 Olympics. The award recognition of the company's gas utility works serving the London 2012 Olympic venues and arena, including the Olympic cauldron and the famous petals of gas flame seen on TVs around the world. The project was delivered in conditions of absolute secrecy with high levels of security and involved "some exceptional engineering and design challenges, according to Martin Donnachie, Fulcrum chief executive. Winning the award, he says, was "a little Olympic triumph of our own". Marketing Initiative of the Year: Francesca Willumsen and Leanne Stronach, Northumbrian Water The iconic Love your Drain public awareness campaign led to Northumbrian Water cut- ting blockages by nearly a fih by educating customers not to throw non-flushable items down the toilet. It also bagged the company the Marketing Initiative of the Year award. "Our campaign was created to help reduce blockages in the Northumbrian Water supply area, which cost significant amounts of money to clear," says marketing and PR's Francesca Willumsen. Their advice for this year's entrants: "Put robust evaluation plans in place and be sure to evidence all your great activity. Most of all, just enter! The awards are a great opportu- nity and a fab celebration event."