Each team member runs 5k in the park, before handing the baton over to a colleague.

This year’s race was in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society, with money raised at the event going to the charity. In total, a massive 5,000 people took part, representing around 300 companies from the greater Dublin area.

True to form, the SSE Airtricity Utility Solutions staff gave everyone the runaround, as they once again scooped the trophy for the top SSE team.

Every year the roads of the Phoenix Park are lined with temporary tents, forming the ‘Staff Relay Village’. At the end of each leg, the runners pass through the tents to cheers from their colleagues, willing them to complete the challenging course.

SSE’s participation in the event was coordinated by the Great Place to Work and Healthy Working Lives teams, promoting staff health and wellbeing and encouraging teamwork and camaraderie.

Dermot Walsh, from the Healthy Working Lives team, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people getting involved, either by running the race or cheering on their colleagues. The Dublin Staff Relay is a brilliant way of having fun, while building team morale and encouraging a healthy working life. There’s a fun and friendly atmosphere and it’s a chance for everyone to really let their hair down. The event fits in perfectly with SSE’s message of positive energy.”

With the Staff Relay under their belts, many of the runners will now turn their attention to the upcoming SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon Series. The first event in the series, the Irish Runner 5 mile, takes place on Saturday 28th June, with the marathon itself on Monday 27th October. This month, SSE Airtricity announced its commitment to sponsoring the Dublin Marathon until 2016.

For further information on the Dublin Staff Relay, and for a full list of results, visit www.dublinstaffrelay.com. For more about the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon Series, go to www.dublinmarathon.ie.

The idea for the clean-up came from SSE Airtricity's colleagues at Donegal County Council and the team at the Utility Solutions’ Donegal depot were only too pleased to help out and kick off this month's National Spring Clean by cleaning and carrying out repairs at the Abbey Centre. Their hard day’s work consisted of cleaning gutters, fixing light fittings, putting up vents and power hosing the entire building. 

The Abbey Centre originally opened its doors in 1959 as a cinema and now hosts a rich programme of community and arts activities, including theatre, music, comedy, dance, visual arts, education and film. Situated at the top of the beautiful and ancient market town of Ballyshannon, the centre serves the local communities of South & West Donegal, Leitrim, North Sligo, Fermanagh and Tyrone.

Through its Community at Heart scheme, SSE Airtricity gives every employee the opportunity to take a day away from their usual schedule and donate their time to a charity or community group of their choice. In the past, staff members have volunteered for organisations such as Barnardo’s, the National Children's Hospital and the Irish Cancer Society.

Barry McCrudden, SSE Airtricity Utility Solutions, said: “It was a really worthwhile day. It’s great to give something back to the community. The guys at the centre seemed delighted with our help, and that’s what matters most at the end of the day. It was also a lot of fun and it’s always nice for our team to do something together away from our normal nine-to-fives. The Community at Heart programme is a fantastic opportunity for SSE Airtricity employees to help their local community and experience something new at the same time. I would encourage everyone to use their Community at Heart day during the year.”

For more information on the Abbey Centre in Ballyshannon visit abbeycentre.ie, and to learn more about SSE Airtricity’s Community at Heart programme go to www.sseairtricity.com/community-at-heart.

Cork City Partnership is an organisation that supports communities in Cork, aiming to increase local access to education and job opportunities, raise awareness of community and voluntary services, and encourage greater participation in the local decision-making process.

11 Utility Solutions employees spent a day at the Partnership’s Knocknaheeny Community Building, cleaning up litter and taking down Christmas decorations. Through its Community at Heart programme, SSE Airtricity gives each member of staff the opportunity to ditch their desk for a day and donate their time to a charity or community group of their choice.

Barry Patterson, from Cork City Partnership, said: “It was fantastic to have the guys from SSE Airtricity helping out in Knocknaheeny. We can always use the extra numbers, and they were so positive about helping the community. The Community at Heart programme seems like a brilliant way of giving back to the local area, and it’s great that the staff are so willing to give up their valuable time. I think the day was a success and hopefully everyone will work with us again in the future.”

SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, Anne Reynolds said: “Our Utility Solutions employees have been very active in the Community at Heart programme over the last few years, taking time away from their normal schedules to help non-profit organisations. It’s great to see this pattern continuing in 2014, and we’re delighted to be able to help Cork City Partnership with the fantastic work that it does for the community.”

For more information on Cork City Partnership visit corkcitypartnership.ie, and to learn more about SSE Airtricity’s Community at Heart programme go to www.sseairtricity.com/community-at-heart.

Concurring, Town Clerk Joe O'Flaherty said Airtricity have an excellent response time now, compared to what the Council were dealing with when ESB were in charge.

"Even the local representative is very polite and obliging," said Mr. O'Flaherty.

"The service provided by Airtricity is unrecognisable compared to what the ESB were providing," he added.