Line Manager of the Month - July 25
This month, we’re proud to celebrate Stuart Whelan from Severn Trent Water as our Line Manager of the Month! Nominated by apprentice Andrew Davies, Stuart’s support, patience, and mentorship have clearly made a lasting and deeply personal impact.
From day one, Stuart has been by Andrew’s side, guiding him through the challenges of balancing work and study.
“When I first started, I found myself struggling to keep up with assignment work, so Stuart sat with me to go through an action plan to get me back on track. We had weekly meetings where he would set goals to achieve, breaking everything down into manageable tasks. He allowed me to use any downtime at work to continue with any apprenticeship work, and has always been there to offer advice and assistance.”
Stuart’s impact goes far beyond assignments. He’s also helped Andrew grow in confidence, both personally and professionally.
“Over the past couple of years, Stuart has taught me a great deal and helped build my confidence within my role. In the early stages, I would often feel like I was asking way too many questions, but Stuart consistently reassures me that there is no such thing as a 'daft question’.”
Whether it’s joining EPA meetings or helping translate tricky terminology, Stuart’s presence is steady and supportive:
“He joined my initial EPA meetings; although he stated I was competent in my role, he was aware that I struggled with various terminology and vocabulary. During my last EPA, he didn't have to add anything other than stating that it went well, as I sounded professional when discussing projects I worked on. I have Stuart to thank for that confidence.”
What makes Stuart truly stand out is how well he lives up to Severn Trent’s values - something Andrew has experienced first-hand:
“When it comes to our company's values, Stuart shows pride by making time for my personal development, teaching me to take ownership of the work I complete. He shows courage by tackling any issues I might be facing at work or within my apprenticeship, and has given me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone. He embraces curiosity by taking an interest in the assignments we're tasked with, providing us with various routes for extra learning, arranging site visits, and directing us to in-house platforms that offer courses to boost our knowledge and skills.
He has also shown a lot of care with me specifically; due to me being diagnosed with ADHD and dealing with anxiety and depression, I struggle with many areas of my life. Stuart has given me the time and space I needed to develop myself the best way that works for me. He knows how to guide me, recognises my skills, and is always very encouraging when I might be feeling a bit lost.”
Stuart’s support has extended beyond the day-to-day. He’s embraced Andrew’s background in design, encouraging him to bring his creative skills into the workplace:
“As my previous roles were in Graphic Design and Illustration, Stuart has encouraged me to take advantage of any requests that come through within our company that might require that area of expertise. In doing this, I have been able to showcase my skills, providing other teams with logos, illustrations, concept art, and various other requests. It's nice to have a line manager who allows their employees to explore new avenues within the company, and utilise any skills or talents they have.”
It’s clear that Stuart’s guidance has not only helped Andrew thrive in his apprenticeship, but has also shaped his entire career outlook:
“I have genuinely become very content with my place at Severn Trent Water and look forward to where my career will take me, and I owe the majority of that to Stuart Whelan.”
Stuart responded to this recognition, saying:
“I am delighted to receive this award. I get a huge amount of satisfaction from nurturing new talent and seeing them flourish in the workplace. The Apprenticeship Programme gives me a great platform to do this.”
Congratulations, Stuart! Your dedication to your team and your ability to support the whole person - not just the apprentice - makes you a truly exceptional line manager.