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Volunteers at Northern Gas Networks are inspiring the next generation of STEM superstars at schools across the North of England thanks to the exciting Big Ideas Programme run by Solutions for the Planet (SFTP).

Successful teams of young people will be heading to the 2026 Regional Finals in Bradford and the North East. This achievement reflects not only the hard work and creativity of young innovators across our region, but also the passion of NGN colleagues who volunteer their time as mentors, a core part of our work culture.

The programme continues to be a standout opportunity for our people to inspire the next generation, develop their own skills, and champion meaningful change in STEM.

What Is the Big Ideas Programme?

The Big Ideas Programme, run by Solutions for the Planet, brings together secondary school students, business partners and volunteer mentors to tackle sustainability challenges.

The programme encourages young people to think boldly, work collaboratively, and create innovative solutions to real‑world environmental and social issues.

Across the length of the programme, students:

• Learn about sustainability challenges
• Develop a “Big Idea”
• Receive mentoring support from business volunteers
• Present their ideas at the regional and national finals

The Programme has become recognised nationally for its impact, confidence‑building. In addition, it’s also respected for its ability to connect young people with industry role models who champion innovation and sustainability.

For the past six years, NGN has been involved in the Big Ideas Programme. Through this partnership, we’ve supported schools across the North-East and Yorkshire. Colleagues volunteer their time as mentors, guiding teams as they shape their ideas, deepen their understanding of sustainability and gain confidence in presenting their work.

Jenny Wilkinson, our Stakeholder Engagement Leader, said: “Supporting the Big Ideas Programme is a brilliant way for NGN to give back to our communities, while developing our own people.

“Our colleagues gain mentoring experience, leadership opportunities and a deeper connection to the communities we serve. It’s also a fantastic way to inspire the next generation of STEM talent.

“We’re incredibly proud of the schools reaching this year’s regional finals. The best of luck to everyone involved!”

Last year’s National Final second place winners from Oxclose Academy

This Year’s Regional Finalists

This year, we saw a number of schools we have partnered with reach the regional finals. These schools and teams are:

• The Halifax Academy
• Bradford Girls Grammar School
• Outwood Academy Shafton
• Wetherby High School
• Bishop Young Church of England Academy
• Easington Academy
• Oxclose Community Academy
• Outwood Academy Freeston

Each of these ideas embodies the spirit of innovation the programme aims to spark, and demonstrates just how capable the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem‑solvers truly is.

Jen Baughan, CEO of Solutions for the Planet, said: “It’s been incredible to see the energy, creativity and determination from these young people, and the invaluable support that NGN mentors have played alongside them.

“The Big Ideas Programme is about giving young people the confidence, skills and belief that their ideas matter, and that they can be part of shaping a more sustainable future.

“That journey simply wouldn’t have happened without the commitment of our business partners and mentors. I’m so proud of every team involved, and really looking forward to seeing them at the Regional Finals in May, and possibly, the National Final in London later this year!”

Celebrating the Regional Finals

Our students will now progress to the regional finals. This involves presenting their ideas to a panel of judges and competing for a place in the national finals. The two finals will be held at the University of Bradford and the University of York. Students also have the opportunity to tour universities and gain an understanding of what further education entails.

Most importantly, these events bring together inspirational young people and highlight the value of programmes that nurture talent, build confidence and open up future pathways into STEM careers.

Giving Back to the Future Generation

At NGN, we’re proud to offer our colleagues opportunities for volunteering and mentorship. It’s an important value that we pride ourselves on.

Offering mentoring opportunities like the Solutions for the Planet’s Big Ideas Programme supports these values. In addition, it brings clear benefits not only to the students, but also to our colleagues.

Through volunteering, colleagues can develop valuable skills such as leadership, communication, and coaching, whilst also gaining a fresh perspective from working with young people tackling real-world sustainability challenges.

These experiences can be incredibly rewarding, helping colleagues build confidence, broaden their networks and strengthen their connection to the communities we serve.

Ellenor Griffin, our Digital Communications Manager and one of our mentors, said: “This is my third year being a part of the Big Ideas Programme. Each year, these young people blow my mind with their incredible ideas.

“Mentoring these students has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Their creativity and passion for sustainability and changing the world are inspiring. It’s been a privilege to help them develop their ideas.

“I’m so excited to see how my teams perform at the regional finals. I’ve had a team go through to the national finals every year so far, so third time’s a charm!”

Adam Spence, one of our Operational Response Engineers and a first-time mentor, said: “Volunteering for the Big Ideas programme was a really great experience.

“It’s a fantastic reminder of how bright the future is. The students’ enthusiasm is infectious, and guiding them through the process has helped build my own leadership skills.

“I’m grateful that NGN gave me the opportunity to spend time with my local community, offer some support and that I was able to give back to these kids.”

A Career in STEM

More importantly, mentoring allows NGN to showcase the breadth of STEM careers available within our organisation. In addition, we also want to inspire future talent and reinforcing our commitment to supporting the next generation of innovators. As a company, we cannot continue to evolve with the modern changing landscape without the ideas and experiences young people bring.

Claire Allcock, our Director of HR, said: “Programmes like the Big Ideas Programme are vital because they create meaningful connections between our people, our communities and our future workforce.

“By giving colleagues the opportunity to mentor, we’re reinforcing a culture where learning goes both ways.  Our employees can share their expertise while gaining insight into the aspirations of the next generation.

“This kind of engagement helps us build a more inclusive, skilled and future‑focused organisation. In addition, it also showing young people that STEM careers are accessible, impactful and genuinely rewarding.”

Looking Ahead

We’d like to wish all the teams the very best of luck in the regional finals. Their hard work, creativity and passion for a sustainable future are exactly what programmes like this are designed to celebrate.

We’ll continue to support, mentor and champion young innovators across our region. We’re excited to see how these Big Ideas grow.

As part of this year’s International Women’s Month celebrations, colleagues from across Northern Gas Networks (NGN) came together at our Leeds head office for an inspiring and thought‑provoking session with Sharon MacArthur, better known as Miss Menopause.

The event was organised by our Women’s Community, one of NGN’s five colleague communities. These communities are committed to strengthening inclusion and belonging across the business. With 18% of NGN’s workforce being female, our community members play a crucial role in shaping our culture, policies and support systems to ensure everyone feels valued and heard.

This was the Women’s Community’s third annual in‑person event, and anticipation was high even before the day began. Several senior leaders expressed interest in attending. Ultimately, five members of our Executive Management Team, including three male directors, joined more than 40 colleagues for the session.

Miss Menopause’s open, honest and engaging style resonated strongly with attendees. The event sparked discussion around the realities of menopause and perimenopause and how workplaces can better support colleagues experiencing these stages of life.

What We Learned: Key Takeaways About Menopause in the Workplace

One powerful learning from the session was that menopause isn’t just a “women’s issue”. It’s a workplace issue. With an estimated 8 in 10 women in the workforce affected, building understanding and awareness benefits everyone.

Some of the key learnings included:

1. The importance of open conversation

Menopause is often not spoken about at work, which can leave colleagues feeling isolated. Normalising open conversation is a critical first step in supporting affected employees.

2. Greater awareness builds stronger teams

Understanding menopause symptoms, from brain fog to anxiety to sleep disruption. This helps managers and teammates know how to offer appropriate support.

3. Support plans matter

NGN is already exploring a Menopause Action Plan ahead of the 2027 workplace action deadlines. This will help embed consistent, supportive practices across teams.

4. Menopause affects everyone

Male colleagues shared their interest in learning how to better support the women in their lives, both at work and at home.

What Our Leaders Said

The event prompted meaningful reflections from leaders across NGN.

Claire Hodgson, Head of Finance and Executive Sponsor for the Women’s Community, said:
“Sharon is a truly inspirational speaker. Everyone learned and took something from the session. The interactive and attendee‑led format allowed for some terrific conversations, debates and learnings.”

Claire also highlighted the impressive impact of the Women’s Community so far.
“This is the community’s third in‑person event, and each year they get bigger and better. It’s been an honour to support the community as their Executive Lead. I cannot wait to see what they do for the rest of this year.”

John Richardson, Chief Operating Officer, added:
“This event was informative and valuable for everyone. I think we can all agree that every colleague who took part learnt something new about menopause, a topic which is too often not spoken about in workplaces.”

He also emphasised NGN’s commitment to creating an inclusive workplace in a traditionally male‑dominated industry.
“Developing a further understanding of a condition which we learnt many women in the workforce are going through helps us know what best practices we can put in place. Menopause doesn’t just affect women. Many of our male colleagues who attended are keen to have conversations on how best they can support the women in their lives.”

What’s Next for the Women’s Community

Following the event, the Women’s Community will bring together community members, team leaders and the Executive Management Team to develop a thoughtful, practical Menopause Action Plan for NGN. With more than 50 active community members and ongoing leadership refresh, the group continues to evolve its focus areas to ensure meaningful, progressive support for women across the organisation.

Celebrating the women in leadership shaping a fairer, greener future across our network.

For generations, the UK’s gas distribution networks have been the unseen backbone of daily life. Keeping homes and businesses safe and warm, powering industry, and helping communities thrive.

Today, as the energy landscape evolves, women across the sector are stepping forward with fresh ideas, empowered leadership, and an unshakeable drive to create a better, more inclusive future.

Here at Northern Gas Networks (NGN) we deliver gas to 2.9 million homes and businesses across the North of England. One of our focuses as part of our five year contract with Ofgem, the energy regulator, from 2026 – 2031, is ensuring our customers and communities recognise themselves in our colleagues.

However, this shift isn’t just about representation. It’s about signalling that there is a place for everyone here. This is based on embracing differences and valuing different perspectives. It is also demonstrating, through action, that the future of gas distribution is collaborative, creative, and full of opportunity.

It’s not a cultural initiative, but a strategic enabler of safety and trust.  It widens the talent pipeline and supports long term operational resilience.

Celebrating the Women Leading NGN Forward

Gas distribution has traditionally been a male-dominated space, especially in operational and engineering roles. Yet across the UK, more women are entering the field. From technical apprentices and engineers to community leads, data specialists, sustainability experts and senior leaders.

In our company, we are embedding inclusion into everyday culture, modelling allyship, and helping colleagues feel confident, heard and supported. This starts from the top down.

Leadership representation matters. At NGN, three talented female directors are helping shape the organisation’s culture, strategy and customer experience.

Claire Allcock, our HR Director, has over 29 years of experience across a number of sectors, including several more traditional, male-dominated industries such as the legal sector. Her focus and commitment are to ensure people are always at the heart of everything we do at NGN.

“For me, leading with a focus on people, wellbeing, and openness is what helps create a thriving, inclusive workplace.” She says. “Ensuring all colleagues feel comfortable doing their best in their roles is a core NGN value.

“For our female colleagues, this is vital. As a mother myself, I know all too well the balance of a professional career and being present for my sons. As a business, we recognise this too, and providing policies like enhanced parental leave (for both mothers and fathers) and the ability to buy additional holiday days where needed, and flexible working arrangements where possible are vital gestures that, as a company, we can provide, making huge impacts in the day-to-day.”

Driving positive change through our Women’s Community

Another one of our female leaders is Claire Hodgson, Head of Finance. Not only does Claire offer coaching and mentorship opportunities for female colleagues looking to advance their careers, but she is also our executive sponsor for NGN’s Women’s Community.

“Women should have help and support in taking the next steps in their careers.” She says. “It’s not about telling them what to do or how to act, but giving them support and confidence to show off their own unique skills and abilities that will bring future success for the company.

“You really see this passion from our Women’s Community. The community is open to everyone, and members openly discuss best practices and initiatives to move NGN forward.

“This community has organised several speakers outside of the business to come in and lend their expertise in different areas. In fact, we have a guest speaker coming up for a special International Women’s Day event focused on navigating Menopause.  Open to all, the event has received interest from male and female colleagues alike. That is the impact this female-led community is having on the culture of NGN.”

Inspiring the next generation

Representation matters. Every woman stepping into the gas distribution sector sends a clear message: that there is space for you here.

Space to build a meaningful career, to influence change, and to thrive in an industry that impacts millions of lives every day.

Whether they’re leading operational innovation, shaping environmental strategies, or supporting communities, women are not just part of gas distribution’s story; they’re key writing its future.