Utility Week

26 | 4TH - 10TH MAY 2018 | UTILITY WEEK Operations & Assets Analysis T he Utility Week Stars Awards recognise the heroes of the utility sector who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep the lights on and the water and gas flowing across the nation and in all weathers. As the industry faces increasing challenges, it is the people on the frontline in terms of delivering service and innovative solutions who continue to make the difference. Nominated by executives and managers, the teams and individuals have been highlighted for their out standing contributions – whether it be in the delivery of critical services or outstanding schemes for collaboration in the interests of improving sector image and efficiency. The awards are open to companies of all sizes from all parts of the utilities industry, with the nominated initia tive, project or campaign in most cases completed during 2016/17. Judges had an enjoyable but tough time narrowing down the many entries in each category, and choosing the ultimate winners – all of whom will be revealed at a special awards ceremony at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate Hotel on 29 June. One judge described the day in three, simple words: "Thoughtful, lively, and upliing." "Just brilliant", was how another judge reacted to this year's Stars Awards entries, agreeing they reflected the huge range of highly committed and extremely talented people working individually and as teams across our utilities. "Nominations revealed the loyalty, professionalism and innovation that can sometimes go unnoticed but is what lies at the heart of a sector that makes a daily differ ence to peoples' lives," said one. "Numerous standout entries made it very hard to choose the ultimate winners, as so many great stories and achievements shone through." The chosen few The shortlist for this year's Utility Week Stars Awards has been revealed, and again the finalists are a shining example of the breadth of talent and commitment across the utilities sector. The Stars Awards 2018 shortlist Big Bang Award for Innovation: Customer-facing • River Itchen Challenge, Southern Water • Customer Care Team, Green Network Energy • Electric Avenue Team, UK Power Networks • SSEN Stakeholder Engagement Team, SSEN • Local Heroes, British Gas (Centrica) • Octopus Energy's Agile Hit Squad, Octopus Energy Big Bang Award for Innovation: Infrastructure • The H21 NIC Project, Northern Gas Networks • Complete Utilities Innovation Team, Complete Utilities • Mayflower Street Pile Cutting and CIPP Patch Repair, South West Water Delivery Alliance H5O • Scottish Water & Caledonia Water Alliance (Morrison Utility Services & AECOM), Morrison Utility Services • Scottish Water, Caledonia Water Alliance (Morrison Utility Services & AECOM) & Pure Technologies, Morrison Utility Services • UK's first fullscale Nereda® plant (now fully operational for Thames Water), Royal HaskoningDHV Constellation Award for Collaboration with Customers • Affinity Water & Morrison Utility Services, Morrison Utility Services • River Itchen Challenge, Southern Water • Portsmouth Water Infrastructure Team, Portsmouth Water & Cappagh • Lymm Safety Centre, SP Energy Networks • SmartGrid Team, UK Power Networks • Welsh Rugby Union, Rygbi Gogledd Cymru and SP Energy Networks Constellation Award for Utilities Collaboration • Alliance, UK Power Networks • NWG Framework Partnerships, Northumbrian Water Group The 2017 awards

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