OFFICE BEARERS FEATURES
chapter A new
New SELECT President Donald W Orr reveals what he’s most looking forward to after being elected at our recent AGM and refl ects on the lessons he’s learned from a 40-year career in the industry
Hi Donald. When did you start your career as an electrician? I started in 1980, after quite an unusual four-year apprenticeship. It began with Stuart H Shaw in Lanark in 1976, however the company was taken over 18 months later and didn’t need as many employees so I was paid off . The following week, I started with George McGills, a few doors up the street, and was there for another 18 months until I was paid off again through a lack of work. However, I then started with T&R Galloway and we agreed they’d help me see my apprenticeship completed. Redundancy is obviously something that some apprentices will be facing at the moment because of COVID-19. But a setback like that can be overcome – you can move on and it doesn’t have to be the end of the world.
And what’s your role now? I’m Managing Director of Unitech Services Ltd in Carluke, Lanarkshire. I started off as a sole trader in 1986 and changed to a limited company in 2005. We specialise in electrical, fi re and security work.
How did you become involved with SELECT? I was invited to the fi rst meeting after I’d joined to receive my membership certifi cate and I realised it wasn’t as intimidating as I’d thought it would be. It was actually enjoyable listening to other members chatting informally as well as about major issues relating to the whole industry, not just my section of it. You realise that you’re really not alone out there and we all have the same issues.
What roles have you carried out over the years for the association? I was part of the Marketing Committee when the name changed from the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland to SELECT. I’ve also represented the association on the Fire and Security Association Standing Committee since 2017. It seemed like a natural progression when I fi rst became Lanarkshire Branch Vice Chairman and then I was asked to become Chairman in 1994. I was also the Depute Vice
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