Diane Johnson, Skills Ambassador for the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), has been shortlisted for the prestigious First Women Awards. The nomination acknowledges Diane’s work in conceiving and implementing Wired for Success: ECA Women into Electrical Contracting.
Founded in 2005 by Real Business and the CBI, the First Women Awards recognise trailblazing women who are laying the foundations for the next generation of female talent. This year’s awards, held in association with Lloyds Banking Group, have a new category, The Built Environment, for which Diane has been shortlisted. She has been nominated alongside some stiff competition, including Katrina Dowding, Operations Director at Skanska, and Julie White, Managing Director at D-Drill Group.
Wired for Success is a revolutionary training and employment initiative that aims to make the electrical industry more accessible to women. Through being shortlisted, Diane hopes to inspire other like-minded organisations to follow the Wired for Success model; and to break down the barriers that prevent women from joining the electrical contracting industry.
Diane says: “Being shortlisted for this award is a great way to celebrate the achievements of the ladies taking part in the Wired for Success pilot scheme. It is also recognition of all the hard work that the ECA and its partner organisations have put in to making Wired for Success a reality.”
Diane continues: “None of this would have been possible without the ongoing help and support from our principal partner, social housing association L&Q. EAS Education is doing a fantastic job of giving the ladies the theoretical knowledge they need, and they are now able to work on active construction sites under the supervision of our three contracting partners – Smith & Byford, Axis, and Mulalley. Winning the award would be fantastic, but of course, whatever happens, the women taking part in Wired for Success will be the real winners.”
The Winners of the First Women Awards will be announced on 28th June, at a ceremony in London.
> Watch the Wired for Success video on YouTube
Notes to Editors For media enquires, contact James Boley / Charlotte Young / Tricia Defty at Thinc Public Relations on 0207 801 6255 or email james@thincpr.com / charlotte@thincpr.com / tricia@thincpr.com
ECA’s Wired for Success demonstrates the power of working in partnership with like-minded organisations to encourage diversity in a non-traditional industry. Conceived and spearheaded by the ECA’s Skills Ambassador and outgoing President, Diane Johnson, it aims to break down the barriers which prevent women from entering the electrical industry, while helping to provide a solution to the skills crisis within the electrical sector. This pilot programme offers a blueprint for success which we hope will be replicated by housing associations, business and organisations, across the UK.
The First Women Awards was created by Real Business in partnership with the CBI, and recognises pioneering UK women whose achievements have set the benchmark in the business world for others to follow. Previous winners include trailblazing, often unsung, women from UK manufacturing, science and technology as well as iconic leaders such as Nicole Farhi. Winners at 2011's event included Taylor Nelson founder Dr Liz Nelson OBE and Wahaca founder Thomasina Miers. First Women Awards supporters include: BAE Systems, Benenden Healthcare Society, BT, Centrica, Harvey Nash, ICAEW, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Land Rover UK and COINS. The Awards are also supported by the Financial Mail.
