Utility Week Awards success at the double for Lanes

Lanes Group plc has been named as a finalist in two categories of the Utility Week Awards 2018.

The company, the UK’s largest independent drainage and wastewater maintenance specialist, has been shortlisted for the Health and Safety and for Utility Partner of the Year awards.

Andy Brierley, Lanes Group’s Technical Director, said: “It’s absolutely amazing that our commitment to safety and wellbeing and our determination to fully support utility customers has been recognised in this way.

“We strive with every fibre to push boundaries in terms of innovation, operational effectiveness and customer service excellence. We can do this because of our great people and great teams, so being recognised in this way is a testament to their dedication.”

The submissions related to Lanes Group’s work as the sole wastewater network services maintenance partner for Thames Water.

For the Health and Safety Award, Lanes explained how its wellbeing app and practitioner programme is allowing it to monitor the happiness of its people working for Thames Water, and give professional support if it is requested.

The app asked field workers how they feel every time they start a shift. If they click buttons stating they are unhappy or every unhappy, they are offered confidential support from a professional mental health practitioner. Office workers can access the same support.

Since the initiative was launched, scores of colleagues have been helped. Most issues have not been work-related, but the initiative has contributed to a significant increase in workforce happiness and a 57% reduction in recruitment churn.

For the Utility Partner Award, Lanes Group could point to initiatives that supported Thames Water’s strategic objectives, including collaboration to open the utility industry’s first 360-degree video training theatre, joint agreements that have led major productivity improvements, and full support for the water utility’s ‘Bin it – Don’t block it’ campaign against FOG, wipes and plastic waste.

Lanes Group provides various specialist utility maintenance services for Thames Water, Anglian Water, Severn Trent Water, Scottish Water, Welsh Water, and Northumbrian Water.

The Utility Week Awards are among the most sought-after accolades in the utility industry. The winners of each of the 14 categories will be revealed at a gala event at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on Monday 10^th December.