Northern Gas Networks are extremely proud after two of our colleagues – Alex Brightman and Jo Lumsden – were shortlisted at the prestigious Women in Utilities Awards which celebrates the incredible achievements of women in the utilities sector, and the organisations which support them.
Alex, who’s a Net Zero Educator, has been nominated for the Community Outreach Award.
She has led several impactful initiatives including delivering a comprehensive education programme for primary and secondary schools, even designing her own resources which were used by hundreds of young people to educate and engage them about the challenges and benefits around Net Zero.
She has devoted many hours to volunteering across the north of England encouraging young people – particularly women and girls – to pursue a rewarding career in the energy industry.
Alex is a proud STEM Ambassador and is a mentor for schools entering the Big Ideas Programme alongside our partner, the social enterprise Solutions for the Planet, where young people are encouraged to create innovative sustainability ideas.
She is also heavily involved with our industry-leading Young Innovators Council – a group of young people whose opinions help shape business decisions made by Northern Gas Networks, which is also supported by Solutions for the Planet.
Jo is a Gas Network Craftsperson and team leader at the Burradon depot in Newcastle. She always dreamed of becoming an engineer, helping her dad fix motorbikes when she was a child, but was unsure how to realise her ambition until she spotted an advert for one of our apprenticeships.
She passed all of her exams first time, fully qualified earlier this year and has already progressed to the role of team leader. She’s now a key part of Northern Gas Networks’ operational team which works across the north of England helping to shape the future of energy to prepare for the transition to net zero.
Jo has overcome any misconceptions around being a female in a traditionally male dominated environment. She said: “I like to think of myself as someone women and girls looking to join the engineering industry can look up to. I’ve achieved something I didn’t believe I could when I was younger.
“If you think you’re capable enough, and you’re willing to learn, you can do it – and I hope I can inspire more females to pursue a STEM career.”
Other Northern Gas Networks colleagues who were nominated for Awards were Eileen Brown, Customer Experience Director, who was nominated for Woman of the Year, and Hannah Jewison, Business Sustainability Lead, nominated in the Business Champion category.
Claire Hodgson is Head of Finance at Northern Gas Networks and also Exec Sponsor of one of the thriving colleague communities – the women’s community.
She said: “Northern Gas Networks’ women’s community are very proud that four of our colleagues were nominated for these prestigious Awards – and that Jo and Alex have made the final shortlist.
“Our women’s community is extremely passionate about empowering women to develop in the workplace, and it’s fantastic to be able to recognise these colleagues’ achievements in this way.”
The Awards are run by Utility week and the Womens Utilities Network, and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in London in June.
Northern Gas Networks is committed to creating a workplace where everyone is recognised for their unique experiences and perspectives and supported to achieve a rich and fulfilling career.
If you’re interested in joining Northern Gas Networks’ talent pipeline visit https://careers.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/
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