A power network specialist who has launched hundreds of successful careers in the electricity industry was honoured by his employer with a top award.

Lee Perkins, 61, from Tolworth, engineering trainees team leader at UK Power Networks, won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the firm's Living Our Values award ceremony in London.

The company which keeps electricity supplies flowing to approximately 20 million people across London, the South East and East of England is recruiting 54 craft apprentices this year.

Employees nominated Lee for devoting more than four decades to the electricity distribution industry, including 17 years developing the next generation of power experts.

He was praised for his dedication, supporting craft and higher apprentices to fill highly skilled roles as electricity cable jointers, linespeople, substation fitters and electrical engineers.

One colleague said: "I have never met someone who cares more about training and coaching people to be the best they can be.

 "He is encouraging, supportive, and a genuinely nice guy. He has mentored many of my current apprentices to be excellent role models to new apprentices and trainees.

"He sees the good in everyone and challenges them to be the best of themselves. A true gentleman who deserves this award so much having helped so many people."

Perkins, who began his career as an apprentice electrical fitter in August 1979, said: "The place erupted with applause when they called out my name.

"It was a brilliant feeling. We are so lucky to work for a company which appreciates its employees, I'm so thankful to UK Power Networks."

He continued: "I wouldn't be where I am today if someone hadn't helped me so my advice is always help someone, give them a chance, it's the only way we will keep improving.

"It's rewarding to see how far former apprentices have come and watch them mentoring new apprentices.

"I have a passion for safety and the best times in my career have been seeing apprentices becoming engineers. They are the future, and we must support them. It's a great industry to work in, there is good job security and the people I've worked with have made the job."

Perkins' mentoring embeds a strong safety culture, helps apprentices with knowledge-based competencies, supports those with neurodiverse conditions to power through challenges and helps apprentices with their day-to-day wellbeing and welfare, often outside hours.

He thanked his wife Fiona and daughter Laura for their support throughout his career.

Chief executive Basil Scarsella said: "These employees are the best of the best. The atmosphere was brilliant, they had their partners there and its recognition of everyone's performance across the company.

"We aim to be an employer of choice, with teams that help each other, and these awards celebrate that UK Power Networks continues to be a high performer year in year out." 

UK Power Networks owns and runs the cables and substations which deliver electricity from the national grid to 8.5 million homes and businesses across London, the South East and East of England, serving approximately 20 million people.

As the country's biggest electricity distributor, it has invested more than £6.4 billion in its electricity networks since 2011, focusing on safety, network reliability, sustainability and affordability by caring for vulnerable customers and keeping costs low. It was named Utility of the Year in 2023, 2016, 2015 and 2012.

It is also a founder member of the Levelling up Coalition, second on the UK Inclusive Companies list as well as one of only 5% of companies worldwide to achieve Platinum Investors in People status.