All the latest news from ECA regions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – we report on stories from members about their local association activities
NG Bailey apprentice wins title
On 24 July, Ben Smith from Leeds-based NG Bailey was named national Apprentice of the Year at the prestigious ECA Edmundson Awards 2013. The award presentation took place at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington, London. The award was presented by Edmundson Electrical’s managing
director Gordon Love, who congratulated Ben on his achievement and wished him every success in the future. To reach the competition fi nal, Ben had been selected as the North East regional winner by a judging panel that included Graeme Watson (North East deputy regional manager) and Dave Bromyard (North East regional chairman). ‘Ben was an excellent
Ben Smith
candidate and fully deserved this award,’ said Graeme Watson. ‘His personality, together with his technical knowledge, ambition and understanding of the electrical industry, made him the region’s choice, and these attributes will stand him in good stead for his future in the industry.’
North East delivers vice-president
At the ECA’s recent Electric Event in Birmingham, chairman of the North East regional executive committee, Dave Bromyard, was appointed as the new ECA vice-president, receiving his badge of offi ce from senior vice president Andy Basham. Dave Bromyard is scheduled to take over the presidency of the association in 2015. Dave is managing director of John Hemy (Systems), based
in Thornaby, Stockton On Tees. He is active within his local ECA branch, South Durham and North Yorkshire, and sits on both the ECA’s education and training committee and the newly- formed information communication and controls technology (ICCT) standing committee. Because Dave’s
company is heavily involved in the hazardous- areas aspect of contracting, he sits on the CompEx management committee, representing the ECA, and is a technical verifi er for CompEx centres.
Across the country Golf day goes with a swing
The weather may not have been quite up to scratch, but the Liverpool and District ECA branch golf competition on 27 June still managed to be a great success. The players battled through terrible weather on the Formby Hall Golf Club course, with the winning team representing electrical contractor W T Jenkins. To mark the victory, team captain and branch chairman Steve Murray was presented with a winners’ trophy from North West regional chairman Andy Basham.
Commenting on Andy Basham (left)
presents the trophy to Steve Murray
the event, Andy said: ‘ECA branch golf days are an excellent diversion from the pressure of our everyday business. Also, it allows us to meet and liaise with other contractors outside of the regular contracting environment.’
East Midlands winner
East Midlands region has announced its regional winner in the ECA Edmundson apprentice of the year awards – Michael Wraight, from Imtech G&H in Nottingham. ‘My apprenticeship has been full of ups and downs over the last
few years,’ said Michael. ‘I’ve learnt a lot with Imtech G&H, passing my AM2 and winning this award are proof of that. It’s an honour to have even been shortlisted for the award, let alone win it.’ Michael worked with Imtech G&H senior project manger
Graham Collins from the start of his apprenticeship, including on the Roundhouse Project for Derby College. ‘He was quiet as a fi rst year and clearly quite nervous about
starting his working life,’ said Graham. ‘However, when we sat him down and explained what we were going to teach him throughout the project and how much he would learn – not only in his work environment, but the social skills involved with working as a team member – it was clear Michael was up for the challenge.’ When Graham caught up with Michael a year later on a schools projects in Wolverhampton, it was obvious that he had gathered more skills and was up for any test that came his way. ‘We set him to work within a specifi c area and he took
ECA president Phil Fagg (left) and Dave Bromyard (right)
giant steps in proving he had learnt many things from his apprenticeship. Without doubt he was now clearly a leader and innovative in his style,’ said Graham. ‘So much so, that he produced a health and safety poster that not only won him praise from Imtech, but the principal contractor took this poster on and used it site-wide in the area and are looking to use it nationally.’ Graham concluded: ‘The reason apprenticeships are so important within the industry is that, not only do they learn the day-to-day of being an electrician, it’s about comradeship, reward and achievement through dedication and the ability to learn from those around you.’
44 ECA Today September 2013
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