Presidential view Here and now
The ECA’s new president, Alun Pearson, refl ects on
his experience with the ECA and how the association is working hard to deliver for its members
I
f somebody had told me, when I was 15 years old and starting out as an apprentice in South Wales, that I would become president of the ECA one day, I would have thought they were absolutely crackers – but here I am. I started my company, A Pearson Electrical Contractors,
with my wife Jane in 1988, and we worked hard to make it a success. After a while, we decided it was time to grow it and, to do this, I knew that I needed the help of a professional body that really understood electrical contracting. That’s why, in 1998, I joined the ECA – and it was one of
the better decisions I have made. Looking back over this time, belonging to the leading electrical trade association has really added a great deal of value to my business. From technical advice to business development support, the assistance of the ECA has been invaluable over the past 13 years. I know that, whenever I need it, I can ask for help in any number of areas and know that I’ll get the very best advice available. The ECA is a place that I can go to share
views on business and the industry, and it’s a place where I can expect a lively, interesting and valuable discussion with like-minded people. Like many of you, I particularly appreciate the ECA in my region – South Wales. Its staff and its members are very dear to my heart, and have become almost like an extended family. One of the things I look forward to is getting out to all of the regions over the coming year, to meet more members, and to extending my ECA family even further.
ECA to ensure that it is able to adapt and meet new challenges and opportunities head on. She is a hard act to follow.
Challenges But I’m looking forward to getting stuck in, and to working to add value and offer support to our members and their businesses. I share Diane’s passion for the ECA and for our industry, and I hope to demonstrate this passion – especially as we face these testing times. The ECA is here, ready to help its members. We are
It’s all of us, as electrical contractors, who will be the frontline troops in the challenge to achieve carbon emission targets
working very hard to make sure that electrical contractors are seen as leaders in the building services industry – by government, by consumers, by client specifi ers, and also by the wider construction industry. But raising the profi le of the electrical contractor is only one part of what the ECA does. We actively support our members in the smooth running of their businesses, by helping with technical, contractual, employee relations, as well as health and safety guidance. The association has also been working
hard creating new projects, such as the Enterprise Initiative, which is designed to help members with the resources and support they need to grow their businesses. We also lead our members to new markets
through initiatives like the Renewables Roadshow, which demonstrated the latest technology and business potential presented by the government’s ‘green agenda’. Sustainability is just one area offering huge potential.
Commitment I would like to take this opportunity to thank our immediate past president, Diane Johnson, for all of her hard work and achievements over the last year. Through her unfailing commitment to the ECA and its members, she has shown what can be achieved when you aim high and push the boundaries. She has been outspoken on our behalf and fought hard for our industry. Many of us admire her hard work, dedication, and passion – particularly on the issue of skills and training, and in ensuring that electrical contractors remain at the forefront of the building services industry. She has raised the profi le of the ECA through extensive media coverage, and helped change the governance of the
About the author
Alun Pearson Alun Pearson is president of the ECA, and owner of family business A Pearson Electrical Contractors.
As we know, the UK has made binding commitments to reduce carbon emissions by 2050, and the rapidly growing sustainability market looks set to really take-off. And it’s all of us, as electrical contractors, who will be the frontline troops in the challenge to make this happen. Electricity is at the heart of everything we do, from lighting to building controls. Properties simply couldn’t function without it. That’s why we have a vital role to play in making the built environment sustainable. There are plenty of opportunities for us to work here – and we need to seize these with both hands. I can see all the valuable work that the ECA does and
plans to do, and I offer all my support to Steve Bratt and his outstanding team at the ECA. I’m sure it’ll be an interesting year – and it’s one I’m very much looking forward to.
July 2011 ECA Today 15
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