Wastewater and drainage specialist Lanes Group has been shortlisted across seven categories in two important utilities business awards including five in the Women in Utilities Awards.
The company has become the most shortlisted partner organisation and the second most shortlisted organisation overall in the Women in Utilities Awards 2025.
Lanes Group is also shortlisted in two categories in the Water Industry Awards – for delivery partner of the year and customer initiative of the year.
Supporting equality
Danielle Le Breton, Group HR Director at Lanes Group, said: “Being named as a finalist across so many categories of the Women In Utilities Awards is extremely pleasing.
“For individuals shortlisted, it is recognition for the brilliant contribution they are making to our company and industry, through their expertise, positive attitude and inspirational approach to their work.
“The shortlisting of Lanes Group in other categories reflects the strides we’re taking to promote equality, plus the contributions being made by many colleagues across the business in supporting this effort.”
The Women In Utilities Awards recognises the achievements of individuals and organisations in supporting and championing the contribution of women across all utilities, including water, gas and electricity.
Making a powerful difference
Women at Lanes is shortlisted for the Women’s Network of the Year Award. Established in 2024, Women at Lanes is already supporting female colleagues and is developing a long-term strategy to make a powerful and sustainability difference across the business.
The network’s purpose reflects Lanes Group’s values – Leading, Agile, Nurturing, Engaging, and Safe and Secure.
By supporting the recruitment, retention and career development of women across the business, it will help give the company the skills, ideas and drive it needs to succeed and grow.
Naz Khanom, Head of People for the company’s Thames Water contract, is shortlisted for the Mentor of the Year Award. She has been recognised for her exemplary approach to mentoring individuals and supporting many others during 2024.
Menopause champions
Helen Jones, a Regional Manager, also on the Thames Water Contract, is a finalist in the High-Viz Award for field workers. She is recognised for demonstrating outstanding leadership, which is inspiring colleagues, both women and men, to achieve brilliant results.
Learning and Development Specialist James Brewer is a finalist for the Allyship Award. He has played a key role in supporting the launch of Women at Lanes by helping devise workshops, a mentoring programme, and training resources.
The Lanes Menopause Group, one of the first initiatives of Women at Lanes, is shortlisted for the EDI Project of the Year Award.
Its team of menopause champions is helping women and men across the company. It is also establishing training and practical assistance to overcome problems linked with menopause.
Lanes Group’s success in being shortlisted for the Delivery Partner of the Year Award in the Water Industry Awards reflects its major business achievements and performance successes over the last year.
The company has won several large contracts, increasing its water utilities turnover by 60%. As a result, it successfully mobilised operational teams for Southern Water and Yorkshire on the same day in April 2025.
Brilliant behaviours success
Multiple innovations cited include the introduction of a new inspection chamber reinstatement process that increases output by 35%, reduces costs by 40% and shrinks the work’s carbon footprint by 80%.
A customer service training programme devised and implemented by Learning and Development Advisor Sian Williams has been named as a finalist in the Customer Initiative of the Year Award.
Brilliant Behaviours breaks down learning into bite-sized chunks in a way the company could demonstrate is increasing motivation and job satisfaction, and leading to a step change in customer satisfaction.
The winners of the Water Industry Awards will be announced at an awards dinner in Birmingham on Tuesday 24th June. The winners of the Women in Utilities Awards will be revealed at a lunch at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, in London, on Friday 27th June.