The Journey Towards Excellence
Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) began its journey towards excellence in 1993, following the privatisation of the electricity industry. The philosophy of business excellence and total quality has since developed into being an integral part of the Viridian Group's ethos, dedicated to continuous improvement in our people, our processes and our service to customers.
Our People
Our employees are at the heart of the pursuit of excellence. They play a vital role in delivering business excellence to each and every one of our customers throughout Northern Ireland. Motivating and encouraging innovation among our employees has improved their contribution and effectiveness in the organisation.
Our Processes
Adopting the EFQM Business Excellence Model has encouraged NIE to strive for operational and customer service excellence, enabling us to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive industry. Setting performance targets, establishing best practice across our operations and consistently pursuing cost efficiencies has transformed NIE into a customer driven organisation, operating within a set of Guaranteed Customer Standards.
NIE holds ISO9000 certificates for Quality Management Systems and the Environmental Management System is ISO14001 certified. PES has OHSAS 18001 (The Safety Standard) and ISO 9001 (Quality).
NIE was also one of the first utilities in the UK to use Six Sigma to improve processes and deliver significant cost savings and quality increases. Six Sigma has been successfully integrated in all business units and, at the 5th Annual European Six Sigma Excellence Awards in 2004, NIE won the award in ‘Best Defect Elimination in Service and Transaction’.
Awards
“The judges were particularly impressed by NIE’s strong focus on, and commitment to, their customers, and also to their communities and society at large. They felt that all of the fundamental concepts of business excellence were demonstrated to be clearly in place and alive within the whole of NIE.”
Joe Goasdoué, Chief Executive of the British Quality Foundation
NIE, winners of the Business Excellence Award - The British Quality Foundation
Recent awards
The Sustainable Ireland magazine "Best Use of Renewable Energy Sources" - NIE Smart Switched on Schools.
Apprentice of the Year 2007 – NIE apprentice Eamonn Maynes (Department of Employment and Learning)
NI ARENA Environmental Survey, First Quintile position (annual award)
Northern Ireland Electricity – Employer of the Year Award 2008 (Department of Employment and Learning)
NEMEX Renewables Innovation Award 2008 (NIE Smart – Switched on Schools initiative)
2005 & 2004
Energia - The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade
InterTradeIreland All Island Trade and Business Awards - Best Tradeable Services
PR Week UK Awards - Issue and Crisis Management
Action Renewables - Business Category winner of Renewable Energy Awards
NIE SMART wins Action Renewables Renewable Energy Awards
Belfast Business Awards - Environmental Award
NIE Energy Credit Today Awards - Commercial Credit Team of the Year
Institute of Public Relations ‘PRide’ Awards - Issues and Crisis Management
NIE Energy Six Sigma Excellence Awards - Best Defect Elimination in Service and Transaction Award
Northern Ireland Business Awards - Excellence in Environmental Achievement
NIE Powerteam Invest NI Export award
NIE Powerteam IIP in February
Young Enterprise NI Award
2003 & 2002
ACCA Ireland Environmental Reporting Awards - Commendation: Environmental Reporting
Northern Ireland Natural Gas Industry Awards - Environmental Award Public Sector
Invest NI Annual Northern Ireland Exporter of the Year Awards - Trades Services Exporter of the Year
Business in the Community – commended ‘Time to Read’
NIE Energy Utility Week – shortlisted for Best Utility company.
NIE Energy (Business) Chartered Institute of Marketing award (Direct Marketing)
NIE Energy Northern Ireland Gas Industry Awards – NIE Environment
NIE Powerteam Top Award ‘Ideas UK’
2001 & 2000
Northern Ireland Millennium Quality Award
Business In The Community Awards - Special Award for Social Responsibility
The British Quality Foundation – Business Excellence Award
Northern Ireland Business Awards - Outstanding Community Involvement
NICVA Camelot Link Awards - Large Company Category Winner
The Utility Industry Achievements Awards - Environment Award
