Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) is heading to the capital to compete with the titans of industry in one of the UK′s most prestigious awards ceremonies.
The British Quality Foundation Awards (BQF Awards), is an annual celebration that honours excellence in business across the UK.
HRH The Princess Royal and patron of BQF, will be guest of honour at the event, which is attended by global organisations, business leaders, entrepreneurs and charities, and will this year take place at the Guildhall in the City of London on Thursday evening (March 15, 2018).
NWG has been shortlisted for four projects and will be competing across three categories: Innovation in Sustainability and Society, for its "Rainwise" and "Every Drop Counts" initiatives; Innovation and Employee Engagement; and the blue riband, Overall UK Excellence Award, one of the highest accolades any business or organisation can receive.
Heidi Mottram, Chief Executive of Northumbrian Water Group, said: "It is a great honour and testimony to the innovative approach we take at NWG to be shortlisted alongside some of the most progressive organisations operating in the UK today.
"We work incredibly hard to provide the best service for our customers, to protect the environment of the regions we serve and to maintain a happy and enthusiastic workforce - to be recognised among the finalists for these awards is fantastic and something that everyone at NWG should take great pride in."
The most prestigious honour of the evening is the UK Excellence Award. Launched in 1994, the award reaches a landmark in 2018, its 25th year and recognises organisations which have demonstrated excellence in all areas of operation.
Last year, two organisations were awarded with the UK Excellence Award - CrossCountry (XC) Trains Ltd and the University of Winchester.
For the Innovation and Employee Engagement Award, NWG has demonstrated how it harnesses the talents and creativity of its people to make their organisation more productive and a better place to work.
In Innovation in Sustainability and Society, the utility firm has showcased "Every Drop Counts" its largest ever water saving campaign across its northern and southern operating regions, and "Rainwise", a unique and innovative programme that builds resilience and reduces the risk of flooding by working with third parties and communities. Both projects are having a hugely positive impact by improving and advancing not only environmental conditions, but also having significant social and economic impact within the communities NWG serves.
During assessments for the overall UK Excellence Award, a comprehensive submission document was submitted, describing how the company′s people, processes, systems and assets deliver unrivalled service to customers.
It also involved a week-long visit by three experienced assessors, who met over 100 of NWG′s directors, managers, team leaders and frontline team members from the office and the field.