We were delighted to see Picote's Chief Commercial Officer, Dawn Greig, named Trenchless Woman of the Year, while our UK Technical Trainer, Steven Richardson, was shortlisted for the Young Professional Award.

Both achievements reflect the dedication, enthusiasm and expertise that people bring to our industry from all backgrounds, whether they have spent years helping it develop or are just beginning to make their mark.

Dawn Greig: Trenchless Woman of the Year 2026

Dawn has been a familiar face in the trenchless industry for many years, helping to introduce new technologies, support contractors and build relationships across the international trenchless community.

Her career with Picote has included working alongside CEO Katja Lindy-Wilkinson to bring our high-speed cleaning technology to the market, as well as supporting the development and introduction of solutions such as Picote Flexi-Sliplining.

Beyond Picote, Dawn has made a significant contribution to the wider industry. She became the first female Chair of UKSTT in its 30-year history, serving for three years, and continues to support the organisation as Chair of its Marketing Committee. She is also a Trustee of the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT), contributing to international collaboration and industry development.

For Dawn, however, the award is as much about the people she has worked alongside as her own achievements.

"Receiving this award is a real honour, but it also reflects the people and teams I've had the opportunity to work with throughout my career —and I’m excited to continue being part of what lies ahead "

Dawn is particularly passionate about encouraging more women to consider careers in trenchless technology and hopes that recognition such as this will help demonstrate the opportunities available across the industry.

We couldn't be happier to see her years of commitment, creativity and hard work recognised by her peers.

Below: Dawn Greig being presented with flowers at the Picote UK Open House in June 2026. A celebration for winning this award. CEO Katja Lindy-Wilkinson (left) and Owner Jutta Ehder-Lokkinen (right).

Steven Richardson: Recognising the Next Generation

It was also a proud moment for Picote UK Technical Trainer Steven Richardson, who was shortlisted for the UKSTT Young Professional Award.

At just 23, Steven has already built an impressive breadth of experience since joining Picote full-time in 2023.

He has trained hundreds of contractors from more than 25 countries, travelled internationally to support customers and live projects, and contributed to product development and technical innovation. Along the way he has had the privilege of being mentored and supported by Dan Holmes, Technical Services Manager at Picote UK.

His practical knowledge and willingness to tackle challenging installations have also seen him involved in projects such as the award-winning Beaulieu Flexi-Sliplining installation, which received the UKSTT Small Renovation Award back in 2025.

While Steven didn't take home the Young Professional Award this year, being shortlisted alongside other talented young professionals is an achievement worth celebrating.

His enthusiasm for sharing knowledge, helping contractors overcome challenges and continually developing his own technical skills makes him a valued member of our team and a great example of the opportunities available to young people entering the trenchless industry.

Steven at the UK Training Centre in Sandhurst, June 2026.

A Celebration of the People Behind Trenchless

The UKSTT Awards are an opportunity to recognise the individuals, teams and projects helping our industry move forward.

For us at Picote, seeing Dawn and Steven recognised at different stages of their careers is a welcome reminder that the future of trenchless technology depends as much on people as it does on equipment and innovation.

We're incredibly proud of them both, grateful to the colleagues and industry partners who have supported their journeys and pleased to be part of an industry with so much talent and willingness to share knowledge.

Congratulations to Dawn, Steven and everyone recognised at the UKSTT Awards 2026!

Dawn and Steven at IFAT in Germany, May 2026..