Michael McGowan was crowned Energy Manager of the Year at the edie Sustainability Leaders Awards 2020.

As Group Sustainability Manager at Ibstock, he is a driving force behind the company’s energy management strategy, playing a key role in the development and launch of the Group’s Sustainability Roadmap 2025.

As a result of the energy saving measures he has introduced, Ibstock is on target to achieve a 15% reduction in CO2 per tonne of production by 2025, and on average it now takes almost 65% less energy to make brick than was the case in 1970.

The awards, co-ordinated by leading environmental publisher edie.net, are the UK’s largest and most prestigious sustainability awards, recognising excellence across the spectrum of green business.

The judges commented: "Michael stood out because of his vision for the need and, more importantly, his ability to communicate and engage with the issues and people concerned.

"He initiated a broad scope of actions across the company on energy management, which the Judges believe make him an ideal winner for the category.”

Of his award McGowan said: “I'm incredibly humbled to be named Energy Manager of the Year. But this award is recognition of the hard work of the wider team in improving energy performance.

“The progress we have made shows we can bring about real change to reduce our impact on the environment and our focus remains on making further improvements over the next five years.”

Ibstock Chief Executive Officer Joe Hudson said: “Michael has been a real catalyst for Ibstock’s innovative approach to improving energy performance.

“By engaging with our wider teams on continuous improvement, we are building a strong culture of sustainability. As a result, Ibstock is looking towards a promising future where our impact on the environment is not only minimised but positive.”

Ibstock was also a finalist in the Energy Efficiency Project of the Year – a category which it won in 2019.