The inaugural NECCUS Young Professionals Award (YPA) winner was announced on Thursday, at a prestigious Murrayfield ceremony held as part of the DeCarbScotland Conference & Dinner 2024.

NECCUS, Scotland’s foremost trade body for industrial decarbonisation, set up the YPA to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of young professionals in addressing the net zero challenge. Sponsored by ESSRecruit – a Scottish company committed to developing Scotland’s workforce of tomorrow – the NECCUS YPA symbolises excellence in the field.

The award ceremony stood out as a highlight of DeCarbScotland 2024, the premier gathering for Scotland’s industrial decarbonisation supply chain. The event brought together industry policymakers and experts – such as Dame Susan Rice DBE FRSE, who chaired the day’s proceedings – at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, providing an unparalleled platform for networking and knowledge exchange.

In introducing the award, Craig Jackson, Director of ESSRecruit, said: “I applaud the efforts and achievements of the award applicants. Their work not only contributes to the immediate goals of decarbonisation, but sets a powerful example for colleagues across generations.

The calibre of applications was exceptionally high, showcasing a breadth of innovation and commitment that deeply impressed the judging panel.”

The winner was announced by Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy. Doğa Şatır, Process Engineer at SSE Thermal, came away with the top prize, having demonstrated a firm commitment to communicating the intricacies of CCS technologies.

The finalists received certificates of commendation in recognition of their impressive contributions in communicating the net zero challenge, and were as follows:

Jonny Brattle, Net Zero Technology Centre

Rodrigo Oropesa, Storegga

Shelly Wilson, ERM

Elle Lashko, Storegga

The NECCUS YPA stands as a testament to the Scottish decarbonisation supply chain’s commitment to fostering talent and innovation in the pursuit of a sustainable future.

NECCUS is the leading trade alliance representing the industrial decarbonisation sector in Scotland. Comprising industry, government, and academia, NECCUS works towards achieving a net zero Scotland by leading advancements in reducing carbon output from industrial processes.

ESSRecruit is a consultancy renowned for its holistic and ethical approach to recruitment. Serving diverse sectors including engineering, technology, carbon capture, hydrogen, renewables, and electronics, ESSRecruit goes beyond mere vacancy filling by meticulously matching candidates’ technical skills and personal attributes to specific roles.

Share this article: