This annual event recognises both companies and individuals for forging the way ahead, rewards excellence and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the sector during the last year.
Nick Ellins, CEO said:
“Congratulations to all of this year’s Utility Week winners. It is incredibly important that the half a million strong workforce who make up the energy and utilities sector are recognised for their vital contribution to society and the economy. Their efforts bring about the safe, efficient and continuous delivery of the gas, water, power and waste services that around 65 million people in homes and businesses across the country rely upon every day.
“But with our sector unable to fill more than one third (36%) of skilled vacancies – well above the 23% UK average and notably higher than any other sector – we must now work together as one to bring in the next generations of talent and train our teams to meet new demands and customer expectations, so that we retain a resilient and sustainable workforce.
“I especially congratulate British Gas, the winners of this year’s Utility Week Staff Development Award, for their successful implementation of the innovative Group Competence Scheme. Winning this Award is a special credit to all of the gas companies that worked together so well on its development, along with the Energy & Utility Skills team.
“The Group Competence Scheme was designed to improve business efficiency, lower costs and be easily incorporated into existing management system and processes. British Gas winning this accolade has proven it does exactly that.”
Richard Harper, Technical Standards Manager at British Gas said:
“Since British Gas incorporated the Group Competence Scheme as an alternative route for their engineers to re-register their Gas Safe registration, over 1,400 engineers have demonstrated their competence via the scheme. We are seeing an enhanced focus on technical safety and this will assist us in continuing to deliver safety improvements for our customers and our engineers.”
The Group Competence Scheme is for businesses of all sizes, Energy & Utilty Skills are working with companies choosing to adopt the GCS who employ 13 engineers.
Find out more about GCS by joining a webinar “Risk based approach to managing competence”, hosted by Richard Harper who is the Technical Standards Manager at British Gas on January 17 from 2.00pm until 3.00pm.