Lighting up London for five decades
Two of the UK’s top network senior managers and engineers who have helped keep London’s lights on for 50 years, have been recognised alongside 37 UK Power Networks employees for long service.
The cohort of electricity workers celebrate a combined 1,480 years of service, as they join the firm’s exclusive 40+ Club - where the 342 members each have 40 to 61 years service.
They were invited to a prestigious dinner with the company’s executive management team including CEO Basil Scarsella.
Tony Cohen and Steve White have achieved a century of service between them, after both starting at the London Electricity Board on the same day on the same engineer apprentice course in September 1974.
Tony Cohen is the head of Network Operations in London and is responsible for keeping the lights on in the capital, while Steve White is the head of Network Operations and Control running the Control Centre and Operational Telecoms covering all of the distribution network operator’s regions – delivering power to 19 million people.
Tony Cohen
Tony started his career in electricity when he took on the role of an apprentice engineer for London Electricity Board in Camden, then moving to Walthamstow.
He managed to secure a degree and post-graduate qualification while working at the company, completing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and subsequently landing a job at the head office, as an engineer.
He secured a role at Eastern Electricity Network more focused on Information Technology.
In 2001, he returned fully to engineering, covering the London and Eastern power networks in Connections Services.
Since the turn of the millennium, Tony has kept the lights on in the capital and led projects like building a power network for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Tony attributes his long-standing career at the company to having colleagues who are dedicated to providing excellent improvements in the time customers are on supply along, with pride in superb customer service.
Tony said: “I've loved every minute of it, the most important thing is the people, the camaraderie, and the intense wish to be good people working for what is an essential service.
“All the people I've met have been just dedicated to what they do.
“I've been treated really well throughout my career. I hope other people in the organisation and in the industry feel the same way and this is the place to be if you want a career in which you can work hard and be rewarded. This job I have now, looking after the London network, is anyone’s dream job.”
Steve White
When Steve left school at 16, he applied for 14 apprenticeships, and accepted a role with the London Electricity Board, starting a much-loved career in electrical engineering. He describes it as the “best decision” he ever made.
In 1978 he qualified as an engineer working on power cuts and construction in central London while continuing his studies for five more years, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Power Systems and an extra 18-module Power System Protection correspondence course which was almost as difficult as the degree.
In 1981 after three years working as a field engineer, he was promoted to a shift control engineer, which was a big move at such a young age. Between 1984 and 1991 he then worked as an engineer in Operational Safety, Planning and Design, Maintenance, and Construction where he worked on the high-voltage supplies connecting Fleet Street as the newspapers moved out and international banks moved in.
By 1999 he was responsible for network planning, design, and major project delivery across London, working on large projects such as the Tate Modern extension and the Bankside tube station redesign – then later the networks running London Underground.
He transferred to his current role as the head of Network Operations and Control in 2010. Since he took the reins in the control room, power cuts have been reduced by more than 45% and the time customers spend without power has been reduced by 64%.
Steve said: “I have been lucky to have such a varied career, both as an engineer and manager. I have stayed at UK Power Networks for so long because the company has always invested in people and I benefitted from that; both in my education, progress, and the ability to move around and get a broad range of experience.
“It doesn’t seem like 50 years, but when I think about it there have been massive changes during that time in network reliability, safety, customer service, technology, network design, and organisationally. That’s a big part of why the company has always been a good employer.”
“I have worked with some fantastic people throughout my career. . I believe the commitment from people today is higher than it has ever been. Being recognised for 50-years service is a nice touch and made all the more enjoyable by sharing it with Tony Cohen who has been a good friend and colleague since the day we joined LEB.”
Basil Scarsella, chief executive of UK Power Networks, said: “As an organisation that strives to be an employer of choice, we are delighted that many of our employees stay with us for their whole career. More than 300 employees have completed 40 or more years of continuous service, and it is a pleasure to annually recognise their contribution to the electricity industry.”
Published: 01/07/24
The cohort of electricity workers celebrate a combined 1,480 years of service, as they join the firm’s exclusive 40+ Club - where the 342 members each have 40 to 61 years service.
They were invited to a prestigious dinner with the company’s executive management team including CEO Basil Scarsella.
Tony Cohen and Steve White have achieved a century of service between them, after both starting at the London Electricity Board on the same day on the same engineer apprentice course in September 1974.
Tony Cohen is the head of Network Operations in London and is responsible for keeping the lights on in the capital, while Steve White is the head of Network Operations and Control running the Control Centre and Operational Telecoms covering all of the distribution network operator’s regions – delivering power to 19 million people.
Tony Cohen
Tony started his career in electricity when he took on the role of an apprentice engineer for London Electricity Board in Camden, then moving to Walthamstow.
He managed to secure a degree and post-graduate qualification while working at the company, completing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and subsequently landing a job at the head office, as an engineer.
He secured a role at Eastern Electricity Network more focused on Information Technology.
In 2001, he returned fully to engineering, covering the London and Eastern power networks in Connections Services.
Since the turn of the millennium, Tony has kept the lights on in the capital and led projects like building a power network for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Tony attributes his long-standing career at the company to having colleagues who are dedicated to providing excellent improvements in the time customers are on supply along, with pride in superb customer service.
Tony said: “I've loved every minute of it, the most important thing is the people, the camaraderie, and the intense wish to be good people working for what is an essential service.
“All the people I've met have been just dedicated to what they do.
“I've been treated really well throughout my career. I hope other people in the organisation and in the industry feel the same way and this is the place to be if you want a career in which you can work hard and be rewarded. This job I have now, looking after the London network, is anyone’s dream job.”
Steve White
When Steve left school at 16, he applied for 14 apprenticeships, and accepted a role with the London Electricity Board, starting a much-loved career in electrical engineering. He describes it as the “best decision” he ever made.
In 1978 he qualified as an engineer working on power cuts and construction in central London while continuing his studies for five more years, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Power Systems and an extra 18-module Power System Protection correspondence course which was almost as difficult as the degree.
In 1981 after three years working as a field engineer, he was promoted to a shift control engineer, which was a big move at such a young age. Between 1984 and 1991 he then worked as an engineer in Operational Safety, Planning and Design, Maintenance, and Construction where he worked on the high-voltage supplies connecting Fleet Street as the newspapers moved out and international banks moved in.
By 1999 he was responsible for network planning, design, and major project delivery across London, working on large projects such as the Tate Modern extension and the Bankside tube station redesign – then later the networks running London Underground.
He transferred to his current role as the head of Network Operations and Control in 2010. Since he took the reins in the control room, power cuts have been reduced by more than 45% and the time customers spend without power has been reduced by 64%.
Steve said: “I have been lucky to have such a varied career, both as an engineer and manager. I have stayed at UK Power Networks for so long because the company has always invested in people and I benefitted from that; both in my education, progress, and the ability to move around and get a broad range of experience.
“It doesn’t seem like 50 years, but when I think about it there have been massive changes during that time in network reliability, safety, customer service, technology, network design, and organisationally. That’s a big part of why the company has always been a good employer.”
“I have worked with some fantastic people throughout my career. . I believe the commitment from people today is higher than it has ever been. Being recognised for 50-years service is a nice touch and made all the more enjoyable by sharing it with Tony Cohen who has been a good friend and colleague since the day we joined LEB.”
Basil Scarsella, chief executive of UK Power Networks, said: “As an organisation that strives to be an employer of choice, we are delighted that many of our employees stay with us for their whole career. More than 300 employees have completed 40 or more years of continuous service, and it is a pleasure to annually recognise their contribution to the electricity industry.”
Published: 01/07/24