Lee Perkins, a Prospect health and safety rep at UK Power Networks, won a national health and safety champion award for his safety training work with apprentices.

Trade unions have been leading the way in supporting apprentices, and Lee’s work mentoring young workers in the energy sector demonstrates how union reps are ideally placed to offer support and training.

Lee Perkins is a Prospect health and safety rep at UK Power Networks and in late June, Lee was honoured with a health and safety champion award for his safety training work with apprentices.

Lee picked up his accolade at the Utility Week Stars Awards, an annual event for utility professionals who do the vital and often unheralded work of keeping the lights on, taps running and gas flowing across the UK.

At the ceremony in Manchester, Lee said:

This is just who I am and what I do, and if it helps others I am chuffed.

I am passionate about helping young people to thrive in this industry because they are the future and I want my work to bring on the next generation.”

Lee started as an apprentice electrical fitter in 1979, installing and connecting electricity substation equipment.

Later in his career, he was strongly involved in delivering UK Power Networks’ psychological safety training programme, Stay Safe, which helped to embed a positive safety culture.

In his training, whether at the UK Power Networks’ Kent training centre or on site in muddy fields, Lee promotes the paramount importance of safety to industry newcomers, usually supervising a dozen apprentices at a time, ranging in age from 17 to 42.

Apprentices have praised Lee’s patient support and said they could not have completed their training without him.

Charlie Aston is Lee’s line manager at UK Power Networks, and said:

Lee is passionate about working safely and believes he has a duty to help newcomers find their way, as he was helped by others when he started out.”

I believe this is his greatest attribute and explains why he is able to make such a special connection with trainees and is such a skilled and effective champion on their behalf.”