The annual awards event, organised by the Future Water Association, celebrates the superstars of the water industry and their amazing contribution to the sector over the past year.
Akeem Adenuga, Field Team Leader, won the Above & Beyond category, which recognises those who make impactful contributions beyond their everyday role.
Akeem, who has been part of the Hydrosave team for ten years, was shortlisted for continuously going the extra mile in his day-to-day role, whilst leading a successful charity that is close to his heart.
Akeem founded the charity Merry-Gold Water UK to help tackle water poverty and bring clean water to rural and vulnerable areas within his hometown of Lagos, Nigeria. Since 2021, Akeem has raised £14,000 for the charity and has delivered two new water sources – improving water supplies and enhancing access to clean water for people in those communities.
Akeem commented: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this award. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of my team at Merry-Gold Water Charity UK, and I couldn’t have achieved this without their unwavering support.
“What started as a passion project before Covid, has spurred me on to complete more projects, and this award serves as an inspiration for me to continue striving for the best and make a positive impact to the communities and the water industry both in England and Africa.”
Abby Stern, Programme Lead, won the Emerging Talent category, which recognises individuals new to the sector who have achieved beyond expectations by bringing something new to the business.
Abby, who joined Hydrosave in 2021 with no prior industry experience, stepped into the role of Customer Side Leakage Planner, where she quickly made a name for herself.
Her fresh perspective and innovative thinking led to her promotion to Leakage Campaign Analyst in November 2023, where she was instrumental in improving leakage performance across North London. More recently, she was appointed Programme Lead, where she is making a strong impact through the use of cutting-edge technology, close collaboration with key stakeholders, and a data-driven approach.
Abby commented: “Winning this award means so much to me. It’s a real boost to know that the hard work I’ve put in over the past few years has been recognised. I’ve learned so much along the way and always try to bring a positive attitude and a willingness to grow. This award has given me even more motivation to keep pushing forward, developing my skills, and making a difference in the industry.”
Andrew Lobley, Managing Director at Hydrosave, commented: “Congratulations to Abby and Akeem! This recognition is truly well-deserved, both are brilliant ambassadors of our business and deliver every day for our customers – we are lucky to have them within Hydrosave!”