A Croydon engineer who recently made the UK’s Top 50 Women in Engineering list has scooped a new award from her employer.

Samantha Burchell, operations manager for Croydon, was named the year’s most motivational manager at the UK Power Networks’ awards in London.

Samantha’s management was singled out among 6,000 staff at the company which keeps the lights on for 8.3million homes, businesses, schools and hospitals in London, the South East and East of England.

Based in Factory Lane, Croydon, Samantha manages a team of 60 field staff that keep power flowing to 230,000 customers across Croydon.

She said: “It felt amazing to win a further award and has completed a brilliant year for me after the Top 50 listing. I was surprised, because I thought I had my moment this year, but the comments from the guys who nominated me were that I’m approachable, always find time to speak to them, even though I work long hours and that I lead by example.

“I have done their jobs, so I know what it is like and spending a bit of extra time with your team can mean a lot to them. I have had managers that I can approach, and I see that as part of my role.

“I encourage my team to put themselves in our customers’ shoes and treat our customers as they would want to be treated.”

Several members of Samantha’s team nominated her for the award, which recognises those who motivate teams to give their best for customers every day, encouraging their employees to make decisions, offer support and guidance and deliver peak performance.

In June Samantha’s inspirational career path from working in a supermarket to keeping the lights on for thousands of properties, gained her a place among the UK’s Top 50 Women in Engineering: Returners and Transferrers when the list was published in the Sunday Telegraph.