Northern Powergrid drives home the win at Brake’s UK Fleet Champions Awards

The prestigious awards, hosted by national road safety charity, Brake, sponsored by Lightfoot, in partnership with Driving for Better Business and National Highways recognise the achievements of those working to prevent crashes and reduce pollution caused by work vehicles.

Over 40 organisations were shortlisted, across 12 categories, and invited to attend the ceremony at New Dock Hall, Royal Armouries, Leeds on Thursday 3 October – with Northern Powergrid crowned Company Driver Safety winner in the Large Fleet category, sponsored by Fleetmaster.

Successfully demonstrating how the network operator takes a proactive, consistent and comprehensive approach to management of work-related risk, Northern Powergrid’s vehicle collisions are down by 10.7%, CO2 emissions have decreased by 6.4% and there were no staff absences relating to driving incidents in 2023.

With a fleet of 49 heavy goods vehicles, 800 commercial vans, 20 electric commercial vans, 13 electric cars and over 1,200 grey fleet cars belonging to employees and used for business travel to carry out their duties – Northern Powergrid’s teams have collectively driven over 15 million miles per year and that figure increases to over 200 million miles in the past ten years.

Northern Powergrid, who holds an Order of Distinction by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for achieving twenty-three consecutive years of Gold safety awards in its Northeast licence area, and twenty years of Gold safety awards in its Yorkshire area, has also achieved specialist Gold Awards for Fleet Safety in both licence areas.

Using telematics as real-time data to track fleet safety on a weekly basis, and their average driver safety score nearing 96%, top-line telematics data is shared with their Executive team ensuring driver safety and performance is a conversation relevant to the highest levels in the company.

The impressive accolade, published as a case study by Driving for Better Business, explains how safety and driving safely is a key priority for the business as it manages the electricity network for 3.9million homes and businesses across its patch.

Gareth Pearson, Northern Powergrid’s Director of Health, Safety and Training, said: “We are incredibly proud to be crowned winner of the Company Driver Safety award in the Large Fleet category of Brake’s UK Fleet Champions Awards 2024.

“Reducing the risks associated with driving helps to ensure every colleague and contractor working for Northern Powergrid goes home at the end of each shift uninjured and in good health after a productive day’s work.

“Safe driving practices and standards, and the safety of our people and customers will always be our priority.”

Delivering an effective programme of training, guidance and support to colleagues, John Wilkinson, Northern Powergrid’s Driver Safety and Performance Manager (pictured), added: “This award is testament to our teams across the business who strive to meet and exceed our driver safety objectives day-in and day-out, often working in adverse weather conditions to keep customers connected around the clock – 365 days a year.

“I’m very pleased colleagues have been recognised for powering safety and keeping people safe. Well done, everyone!”

Find out more about Brake’s UK Fleet Champions Awards: Brake announces the winners of the UK Fleet Champions Awards.

Download free safety information at www.northernpowergrid.com/safety.