SP Electricity North West’s Chris Havard has been recognised for his outstanding levels of leadership on the national apprenticeship stage.
Blackburn-based Havard claimed the Leadership in Apprenticeships award at the annual Apprentice Guide Awards.
Early careers programme manager for the firm which operates the North West’s power network, Havard, over the last nine years, has overseen a huge period of growth for SP Electricity North West’s apprenticeship programme.
Applications for the programme have risen each year with 1,600 applying last year while more than 270 apprentices have been a part of the programme since Havard first joined. An additional 31 will start in September.
“It’s an absolute honour to be recognised on the national stage in a sector I’m incredibly passionate about,” said Havard.
“There were some very talented people on the shortlist so to be recognised with a highly coveted award is something I am immensely proud of.
“Our apprenticeship programme at SP Electricity North West really is going from strength-to-strength, it’s an important time for our industry as the reliance on electricity becomes ever more important as we move to low carbon technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps.
“Given the amount of growth that is expected, there’s never a better time to join and each year, we’re seeing high class candidates apply and join the business. While this award recognises my achievements, I want to say a huge thank you to my team who play a vital role in the way we operate.”
The Apprentice Guide Awards celebrate the employers and training providers who enable apprentices to flourish.
Havard has been at the forefront of this for the last several years for SP Electricity North West developing the firm’s talent of the future.
And the recruitment of young talent will only continue as from 2028, SP Electricity North West will embark on five-year journey which will see record levels of investment throughout its operating region.
The latest win is the latest in numerous award wins for the business as last year, SP Electricity North West claimed the Best Apprenticeship in Energy/Utilities at the Apprentice Guide Awards.
Earlier this year, SP Electricity North West achieved the highly coveted We Invest In Apprentices, gold standard accreditation, awarded by Investors in People.
