Congratulations to Hugh Thomson, trainee line mechanic with Counties Energy, who has been named this year’s Overall Trainee of the Year at the Connexis Excellence Awards.
Hugh, who has been at Counties Energy since 2022 was also named winner of the Distribution Trainee of the Year.
In nominating Hugh for the award Counties Energy described Hugh as going the extra mile, particularly in job planning safety and vehicle maintenance. “[Hugh is] already performing well above the level expected of trainees. He sets the benchmark for being a reliable, humble, hardworking team member.”
In naming Thompson as the winner, one judge said: “Hugh is an outstanding trainee who is very proactive, has a strong work ethic and appears to be a natural leader. I was particularly impressed that he wants to become a master of his trade before considering advancement to other roles in the industry.”
Hugh says he started his career doing civil construction work for distribution and transmission but could see potential in training as a line mechanic. “It looked awesome so I decided to give it a go and upskill.”
The full list of this year’s Connexis Energy Trainee Excellence Awards winners is:
- Transmission trainee of the Year: Callum Fowden, transmission line mechanic and utility arborist, Ventia, Upper Hutt
- Generation Trainee of the Year: Fiona Glennie, trainee power technician, Meridian, Twizel
- Distribution Trainee of the Year: Hugh Thomson, trainee line mechanic, Counties Energy, Pukekohe
- Traction Line Mechanic of the Year: Robert Ngawharau, leading hand traction line mechanic, Wellington
- Advanced Trainee of the Year: Gemma Rose, junior power technician, Empowered Technical Services, Ngaruawahia
- Contribution to Training and Development: Paul Bryant, Genesis Energy
The Connexis Energy Excellence Awards are handed out at the close of Annual Connection each year, providing a spotlight for the industry’s future talent, and the dedication and commitment apprentices have for their training.
Connexis Executive Director Kaarin Gaukrodger says: “All the finalists and winners at the Excellence Awards, as well as Annual Connection, shine a light on the future leaders of the industry. We look forward to seeing their careers progress.”
