Ballymena Showgrounds, Northern Ireland – June 2026

Kinecx Energy has successfully hosted the inaugural Northern Ireland Utilities Cup at Ballymena Showgrounds, bringing together organisations from across the utilities sector for a day of football, fundraising, and collaboration in support of Autism NI.

The event, which took place on Friday 5th June, welcomed 18 teams representing 13 organisations from across Northern Ireland’s utilities and infrastructure landscape. Participants included organisations such as Openreach, NIE, firmus energy, Phoenix, Kier, Evolve and Action Renewables, among others, in what proved to be a highly competitive and community-driven tournament.

Thanks to the generosity of participants, sponsors, and supporters, the event raised an impressive £5,300 for Autism NI, surpassing pre-event fundraising expectations and providing vital support for autistic people and their families across the region.

The tournament featured group stages followed by knockout rounds, ensuring all teams had multiple opportunities to compete throughout the day. Alongside the football, attendees enjoyed a range of activities including crossbar challenges, inflatable games, and a charity raffle featuring prizes such as hotel stays, experience vouchers, and more.

After a series of strong performances, Openreach emerged as overall champions of the Northern Ireland Utilities Cup, while McGaffin Mechanical claimed victory in the Plate competition.

Beyond the results on the pitch, the event fostered meaningful networking and strengthened relationships across the sector, highlighting the shared commitment of organisations to give back to local communities. The strong turnout reflected a collective desire within the industry to collaborate for a shared cause.

All proceeds from the event went directly to Autism NI, a charity dedicated to supporting autistic people and their families through services, advocacy, and awareness initiatives across Northern Ireland.

The fundraising effort included on-the-day donations, pre-event contributions, and a widely supported raffle, which helped drive totals beyond the initial £4,000 raised ahead of the tournament.

The success of the inaugural Northern Ireland Utilities Cup has laid strong foundations for the event to become a key fixture in the utilities sector calendar.

Reflecting on the day, Kinecx Energy’s Chair of Corporate Social Responsibilities Committee, Lisa McCarthy highlighted the importance of collaboration and community spirit in achieving meaningful impact:

“The Northern Ireland Utilities Cup showcased what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared purpose. We are incredibly proud of the support shown across the sector and delighted to contribute to the vital work of Autism NI.

On behalf of Kinecx Energy we extended sincere thanks to all teams, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who contributed to the success of the day, as well as those who supported fundraising efforts remotely through donations and raffle participation.”

As momentum continues to build, Kinecx Energy hopes to grow the event in future years, passing the baton of hosting to others within the utilities sector, increasing participation and fundraising impact even further.