Power Company Rewards Safety with £5K Charity Donations

When engineers at Northern Powergrid racked up safety points throughout 2024, they knew the prize would go straight to those who needed it most.

Two teams in Teesside finished in the top three of the company's Safety Champions program, earning £5,000 combined to donate to local charities. Their choices reflect what matters most to them: saving lives and protecting vulnerable animals.

Teesside Team 2, led by Nabeel Hussain and Alan Brumwell, donated £3,000 to the Great North Air Ambulance Service. The team voted together to choose the charity, united by respect for the crews who respond to critical emergencies across the region.

"Air ambulance crews do an incredible, selfless job, making a substantial difference saving lives," Nabeel said. The donation will help fund the critical care equipment and rapid response services that make those rescues possible.

Teesside Team 3 took a different approach, sending their £2,000 prize to RSPCA Middlesbrough after learning that animal cruelty incidents jumped 30% last year. Production Manager Peter Allen and Warehouse Controller Hayley Burmiston rallied their animal-loving teammates around the cause.

The donation will cover veterinary treatments, neutering services, and microchipping for rescued animals. For a local branch that depends entirely on community support, the money provides a critical lifeline.

The Ripple Effect

Northern Powergrid's program does more than reward safe behavior. It turns workplace safety into community impact, giving employees ownership over which causes receive support.

Teams earn points monthly by demonstrating practices that protect themselves, their colleagues, and the public. The top three teams at year's end split £10,000 to donate however they choose.

This approach creates a double win: fewer workplace incidents and more resources for organizations doing essential work. The engineers stay focused on safety knowing their diligence directly helps their neighbors.

Genna Reece from RSPCA Middlesbrough thanked the team for "providing this lifeline to local animals in need." Tracey Wright from the air ambulance service expressed similar gratitude for helping them "continue saving lives across the region."

When workplace achievements translate into community care, everyone wins.