Northpower scoops national awards

Northpower scoops national awards

Three Northpower employees have won titles at the annual ESITO Excellence Awards.

The awards celebrate the most outstanding trainees with Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation (ESITO) training agreements who currently work in the electricity supply and telecommunications industries.

Northpower Project Manager Mike Hughes has earned the title – Advanced Trainee of the Year – and soon to be qualified Cable Jointer, Aroha McLean, has been voted Networks Trainee of the Year.

She joined Northpower two years ago as part of an initiative between Northpower, ESITO and Electrix designed to encourage more women into once non-traditional roles within the energy sector. Aroha, who is formerly from Whangarei, has more recently been helping promote the project, Ultimit, (formerly Women in Power).

Warkworth’s John Donald took out the outstanding leader award for Top Foreman in the National Line Mechanics competition.

Three other Northpower staff – Cam Miller, Pat Croul and Katherine Cosgrove – were finalists in various divisions, a pleasing achievement for the fast-growing Northland company, says Northpower’s General Manager of Business Support Barbara Harrison.

Northpower’s Warkworth team – comprising of John Donald, Dave Lelo, Neil Wardle and Tom Winterbottom and Coach Lyndon Connolly – was runner up in the Line Mechanics competition. Meantime, Brent Richards was runner-up in the Cable Jointer competition.

“This is good recognition for the commitment, drive, skill and potential of people who have dedicated themselves to ongoing study and upskilling,” says Ms Harrison.

“Mike, Aroha and John thoroughly deserve their awards; however, the calibre of all entrants was high. So even those who didn’t walk away with awards should hold their heads high with the recognition they received. They’ve done exceptionally well just to be in contention and from a Northpower perspective it is pleasing to see the development of so much talent within the company.
“I remember speaking to a group of high school students earlier this year who were taking part in a boot camp designed to give them a taste of the electricity sector. I told them they shouldn’t give up until they realise their aspiration of a job in the industry because it's a fantastic sector to be part of.

“I can see exactly that attitude within the Northpower staff who have been finalists this year. They don’t accept second best and their drive for safe work practices is very strong, which is critical in the electricity sector. Safety must underpin everything we do at all times.”

ENDS

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