The triumph of excellence as SELECT honours Scotland’s electrical industry at major awards ceremony
Scotland’s electrical trade has earned and maintained a reputation for quality, craftsmanship and excellence and it was rousingly recognised last night at a prestigious awards ceremony hosted by SELECT on 5th October.
Companies large and small, from the cities and from local communities, shared in an evening of glamour and excitement as accolades were awarded to worthy winners, as well as the future of the trade – apprentices.Newell McGuiness, SELECT managing director, said at the glittering gathering at the Radisson Blu in the centre of Glasgow, ‘SELECT has been instrumental in raising awareness of quality, safety and the highest possible standards and it is clear from the winners we have seen tonight that that message has been comprehensively taken on board.
‘These companies, organisations and individuals not only operate to existing high standards, but they make positive efforts to exceed them in the interests of their clients, whether they are businesses or private individuals.’
The star of the night, he said, was the Bellshill based engineering division of NG Bailey, which not only scooped the Electrical Contractor of the Year Award but also took the prize for Best Electrical Safety Project.
McGuiness said, ‘This is one of the enjoyable tasks for the judges who, in the course of their visits round the country, encounter companies such as the Bellshill arm of NG Bailey, who are absolutely excelling in the service they provide.
‘They are very appropriate winners of our main award, the Electrical Contractor of the Year, and it does not surprise me that this dedicated and talented team have also added another award to their tally.’
Other awards were:
– Best Small Contractor, won for the second year running by M-Pact Building Services, based in Midlothian.
– Apprentice of the Year, won by Amy Garrick, from Shetland, who works for Shetland Islands Council.
– Best Use of Training, won by Lanarkshire company Crown House Technologies, which won three awards last year.
– Best New Product, won by Stirling company Linnet Technology, for its development of the hydrogen fuel cell.
– Best Delivery of Customer Service, won by social enterprise company R3 Repairs from Haddington.
– Best Promotion of Certification. This award was shared by AKD Systems, of Edinburgh, and McKissock Electrical, of Ayr.
– Best Environmental Project, won by Highland Council for the installation of LED street lighting.
A Lifetime Achievement award was made to Dr Phil Cornish, CBE, a man who has made an outstanding contribution to standards in the construction industry.
Now retired from full time employment, Dr Cornish has held a life long career interest in issues concerned with protecting the public interest and promoting the public good through the application of regulations or standards relating to building performance and construction.
Newell McGuinness said, ‘Dr Cornish has made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of building standards in Scotland. He has been an unfailing champion of certification and has devoted large parts of his life to the public good. It gives us great pleasure to afford him this long overdue recognition.’
