“Michael has worked on some key projects that demonstrated his competence, including trials on hydrogen, which were very unique at the time.”
Michael Horgan, a project engineer at Kintore-based STATS Group, was named Graduate of the Year at the 2025 Engineering Construction Industry (ECI) Training and Development Awards.
The Aberdeen-based engineer was honoured at a prestigious ceremony at Glaziers Hall in London, which celebrated excellence in training and development in the ECI, which spans sectors such as oil and gas, nuclear, power generation, renewables, hydrogen and chemicals.
Michael came out on top after being shortlisted in the final three for the graduate category, which recognised the achievements of individuals actively pursuing or who had successfully completed a graduate programme within their organisations in the past 12 months.
He graduated with a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University in 2023. He then completed the Monitored Professional Development Scheme after joining STATS Group, which is a market leader in the supply of pressurised pipeline isolation, hot tapping and plugging services to the global energy industry.
The award submission highlighted Michael’s journey as a graduate engineer and how he completed the development programme in under two years to become a project engineer.
He was praised for “making a real impact” over the past year through his work on numerous high-profile industry projects. In particular, the judges recognised Michael for playing a key role in the first UK subsea pipeline isolation project; aiding the delivery of the first hydrogen pipeline isolation scope; and stepping in as Interim Project Manager in STATS’ Houston office in USA.
With Michael still in the US, STATS Group Training & Competence Manager Andy Buckworth was on hand to pick up the trophy on behalf of Michael from award category sponsor BCECA (British Chemical Engineering Contractors Association).
“Michael is exceptional at his job, but it’s also his personality too. He’s got an aura about him when you listen to him and yet he is quiet and there’s nothing overpowering about him.
“It’s been absolutely incredible to see him do so well in the USA. Before that, he had only ever worked in our office in Kintore.
“He went to the States to cover for someone that was poorly. He picked up their role and they have since offered him a job, so he’s in a very senior role straight away there.”
Andy Buckworth
STATS Group Training & Competence Manager
A judging panel of industry representatives – made up of Tracey Shelley (BCECA), John Simpson (ECIA), Mark Riley (Phillips 66 Limited), Steve Hunt (Altrad) and Helen Woodward Davies (EDF Energy) – picked the overall winners across nine categories based on the significant contributions they have made both to the ECI and their own organisations.
Find out more about all the winners from the ECI Training & Development Awards 2025
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