A Wigan-based consultancy specialising in complex nuclear projects has been recognised for outstanding performance in project capability development at the 13th annual Engineering Construction Industry (ECI) Training and Development Awards in London.
The Herne Group, a project management and controls consultancy, took home the Small/Medium Employer (SME) of the Year award for its innovative approach to workforce development, agile delivery and knowledge transfer across major infrastructure projects.
The event, organised by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), and hosted by Dr Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, celebrated organisations leading the way in project performance, learning and talent development across engineering construction.
The Herne Group’s award comes just a year after team member Lewis White was named Apprentice of the Year. Over the past 12 months, the firm has demonstrated an “exceptional commitment to learning and development”, with judges commending its proactive talent pipeline, mentoring culture and structured project-management training.
Recognised for its “agility, personal approach and proven success,” Herne Group has tackled the typical barriers SMEs face in delivering high-level project work within the nuclear sector, most notably around restricted project access for early-career staff. To bridge that gap, the company built internal, scenario-based project simulations using anonymised data from live contracts, enabling trainees to practice the full project lifecycle from planning and WBS development to risk management and project controls.
The firm also provides client-facing project placements for apprentices at no charge, ensuring emerging professionals gain the confidence, context and stakeholder exposure essential for effective project delivery.
Accepting the award from sponsor NUVIA, director Mike Preston said, “Lewis’ success last year gave us belief in our approach to training and delivery. As we’ve grown, we’ve been able to bring new entrants into projects more quickly, developing their planning and scheduling skills through ECITB-backed qualifications before they ever step onto client sites. The scenario-based training model gives them practical, hands-on understanding of how real projects run. That’s been a game changer for us.”
ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey praised the award winners for their leadership in aligning talent development with national infrastructure goals.
“As we strengthen the UK’s project delivery capability in support of energy security and net zero, it’s essential that organisations like Herne Group continue to embed learning into every phase of their projects,” he said, “This is a perfect example of project training driving performance at every level.”
View the full list of winners from the ECI Training & Development Awards 2025 here.
