Joining the Hydrogen UK Awards Shortlist

Shortlist Success for Hydrogen Safe

We are very pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted in three categories at the Hydrogen UK Awards 2026; Future Hydrogen Leader, Best Thought Leadership, and Community Engagement.

These awards celebrate companies and individuals who have shown exceptional dedication and leadership in advancing the hydrogen economy, making a significant impact on the industry’s growth.

Shortlisted for the Future Hydrogen Leader Award is our Director of Partnerships, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Simon.

Lizzie’s passion for hydrogen is impossible to ignore – not only does she champion clean energy at every opportunity, but she also uses the platforms available to her to share her knowledge.

Driven by a desire to show how collaboration can have a positive impact on people and planet, she is a very deserving candidate for this award.

Next, we are shortlisted for the Best Thought Leadership category.

Focusing on the importance of partnerships, for this submission we shared how we worked with Inspection and Consultancy Services (IACS) when the business launched its apprenticeship scheme.

Introducing hydrogen training into the apprenticeship, this was the first Ofqual registered qualification we launched before developing the Level 2, 3 and 4 qualifications.

Recognising the need to introduce practical elements into our training, we have built strategic relationships with several businesses including Northern Valve & Fitting Company Ltd (NVFCL), UK distributor for the FITOK Group.

Through these partnerships, we have added practical application in our courses, updating the content to include industry expertise, such as tube fitting from NVFCL (CPD Certified) in various settings.

Finally, as a member of the IACS group of companies, we have been shortlisted in the Community Engagement category.

This submission shares that faced with a skills shortage, an unprecedented demand for pipeline inspectors and an industry transitioning to clean energy, IACS took matters into its own hands by making a multi-million-pound investment in people and skills development, including the launch of the ‘Practitioner in Pipelines for Hydrogen and Utilities’ (PIPHU) Apprenticeship.

Not only does the apprenticeship educate local people from Manchester and the surrounding region, but it also provides future career opportunities with an established business that has its sights set on global expansion.

Lizzie comments: “We know how prestigious the Hydrogen UK awards are within the sector, and so to receive the news that we have been shortlisted in three categories is fantastic.

“What’s more, securing these nominations really does put a spotlight on the talent we have in the team, the partnerships we have in place, and how we are putting our knowledge into practice to deliver a positive impact on UK business.”

A spokesperson from Hydrogen UK comments: “Hydrogen Safe’s contributions impressed our judges, reflecting its remarkable achievements in this vital sector.”

The Hydrogen UK Conference and Awards is the premier event celebrating excellence and innovation in the hydrogen industry. The event, which attracts hundreds of people associated to the industry, will take place on March 10^th at the Birmingham NCC.