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Iberdrolas ScottishPower Wins National AI Awards Educator of the Year for AI Training Initiative
When the National AI Awards announced its 2026 winners on 15 June, a quiet champion from the UK stood out: ScottishPower, Iberdrola’s Scottish subsidiary, was named Educator of the Year.
The honour recognises the company’s “Building a Responsible AI Workforce for the Future” programme, a comprehensive effort that trains employees and engages the wider community in artificial‑intelligence skills.
The jury—composed of technology‑sector experts—praised ScottishPower as a model for responsible AI adoption. In its announcement, the panel highlighted the programme’s blend of internal training, hackathons, digital summits, and outreach to young people.
Key to the initiative is an AI learning curriculum that began in October 2025 with a pilot at the Glasgow headquarters. The pilot invited 24 secondary‑school students to experience AI in a real workplace, a first step that has since expanded to schools and universities across the region.
ScottishPower is part of Iberdrola, the Spanish multinational electric‑utility group headquartered in Bilbao. Iberdrola has long invested in AI across its operations; in 2024 it announced more than 150 use cases ranging from asset analysis to weather forecasting, all aimed at boosting operational efficiency.
Between 2022 and 2024, Iberdrola operated an AI Centre of Excellence that coordinated research and initiatives across the group, linking academic partners with internal teams to explore AI solutions for the electricity sector.
In May 2026, Iberdrola announced a new investment in AI data‑centre infrastructure to meet the growing demand for clean power and the computational needs of AI workloads. The company’s strategy emphasises expanding data‑centre capacity while staying true to its renewable‑energy commitments.
The Educator of the Year award underscores Iberdrola’s broader focus on responsible AI. The group joined the European Commission’s AI Pact in September 2024, a voluntary initiative that promotes ethical AI use in line with the EU’s forthcoming AI Act.
ScottishPower’s training programme embeds AI skills into everyday business processes. The internal curriculum covers practical applications such as asset analysis, predictive maintenance, and weather‑based demand forecasting. Hackathons bring engineers, data scientists, and business analysts together, fostering cross‑functional collaboration.
The outreach component targets schools and universities. The “AI for Schools” pilot in October 2025 gave students a hands‑on look at AI in a workplace setting, reinforcing the company’s commitment to community engagement.
The National AI Awards jury noted that ScottishPower’s comprehensive approach to training and community engagement sets a benchmark for other organisations. The award recognises the company’s dedication to building a responsible AI workforce that can drive innovation while addressing ethical considerations.
Iberdrola’s investment in AI infrastructure and its participation in the AI Pact signal a long‑term strategy to embed AI across its operations. The company’s focus on renewable energy, data‑centre expansion, and ethical AI aligns with its broader sustainability goals.
The Educator of the Year award is part of the 2026 National AI Awards programme, which celebrates organisations and individuals that demonstrate excellence in AI innovation, responsible use, and transformative leadership.
The ceremony took place in London, where representatives from Iberdrola and ScottishPower received the prize. The announcement was released through the ScottishPower media room and the National AI Awards website.
The recognition comes at a time when the energy sector is increasingly leveraging AI to optimise grid operations, forecast demand, and integrate renewable sources. Iberdrola’s continued investment in AI training and infrastructure positions it to support the sector’s transition to cleaner energy.
In short, ScottishPower’s Educator of the Year award reflects Iberdrola’s commitment to building a skilled, responsible AI workforce. The company’s training programmes, community outreach, and AI‑driven operational initiatives demonstrate a holistic approach to AI adoption that aligns with industry best practices and regulatory expectations.
The honour recognises the company’s “Building a Responsible AI Workforce for the Future” programme, a comprehensive effort that trains employees and engages the wider community in artificial‑intelligence skills.
The jury—composed of technology‑sector experts—praised ScottishPower as a model for responsible AI adoption. In its announcement, the panel highlighted the programme’s blend of internal training, hackathons, digital summits, and outreach to young people.
Key to the initiative is an AI learning curriculum that began in October 2025 with a pilot at the Glasgow headquarters. The pilot invited 24 secondary‑school students to experience AI in a real workplace, a first step that has since expanded to schools and universities across the region.
ScottishPower is part of Iberdrola, the Spanish multinational electric‑utility group headquartered in Bilbao. Iberdrola has long invested in AI across its operations; in 2024 it announced more than 150 use cases ranging from asset analysis to weather forecasting, all aimed at boosting operational efficiency.
Between 2022 and 2024, Iberdrola operated an AI Centre of Excellence that coordinated research and initiatives across the group, linking academic partners with internal teams to explore AI solutions for the electricity sector.
In May 2026, Iberdrola announced a new investment in AI data‑centre infrastructure to meet the growing demand for clean power and the computational needs of AI workloads. The company’s strategy emphasises expanding data‑centre capacity while staying true to its renewable‑energy commitments.
The Educator of the Year award underscores Iberdrola’s broader focus on responsible AI. The group joined the European Commission’s AI Pact in September 2024, a voluntary initiative that promotes ethical AI use in line with the EU’s forthcoming AI Act.
ScottishPower’s training programme embeds AI skills into everyday business processes. The internal curriculum covers practical applications such as asset analysis, predictive maintenance, and weather‑based demand forecasting. Hackathons bring engineers, data scientists, and business analysts together, fostering cross‑functional collaboration.
The outreach component targets schools and universities. The “AI for Schools” pilot in October 2025 gave students a hands‑on look at AI in a workplace setting, reinforcing the company’s commitment to community engagement.
The National AI Awards jury noted that ScottishPower’s comprehensive approach to training and community engagement sets a benchmark for other organisations. The award recognises the company’s dedication to building a responsible AI workforce that can drive innovation while addressing ethical considerations.
Iberdrola’s investment in AI infrastructure and its participation in the AI Pact signal a long‑term strategy to embed AI across its operations. The company’s focus on renewable energy, data‑centre expansion, and ethical AI aligns with its broader sustainability goals.
The Educator of the Year award is part of the 2026 National AI Awards programme, which celebrates organisations and individuals that demonstrate excellence in AI innovation, responsible use, and transformative leadership.
The ceremony took place in London, where representatives from Iberdrola and ScottishPower received the prize. The announcement was released through the ScottishPower media room and the National AI Awards website.
The recognition comes at a time when the energy sector is increasingly leveraging AI to optimise grid operations, forecast demand, and integrate renewable sources. Iberdrola’s continued investment in AI training and infrastructure positions it to support the sector’s transition to cleaner energy.
In short, ScottishPower’s Educator of the Year award reflects Iberdrola’s commitment to building a skilled, responsible AI workforce. The company’s training programmes, community outreach, and AI‑driven operational initiatives demonstrate a holistic approach to AI adoption that aligns with industry best practices and regulatory expectations.
