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Chris Ashworth EDA President


CEF’s Chris Ashworth to serve extended term as EDA President


Chris Ashworth’s role as President of the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) has been extended until March 2023. Chris, CEF Director of Operations, who took over as President in December 2019, will lead the Association’s Board of Management for longer than the usual two year term of office.


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tearn Electrical Co Ltd’s, Charlie Lacey, will also continue in his role as Vice President until March 2023 and, along


with former President, Simon Barkes, MD of BEMCO, form the EDA’s Presidential Team. “It has been a strange time to be President of an


industry organisation. The event calendar has been decimated and there hasn’t been the opportunity to meet in person over the past year,” explains Chris. ”We have, however, adapted our ways of engaging with our members and had excellent exchanges of information and dialogue using platforms such as Zoom and Teams. There have been many new and challenging issues through the pandemic and of course Brexit, it has been a privilege to work with the EDA team as we help members to navigate through troubled waters. In many respects, the virtual engagement with members imparting relevant and topical information for these challenging times has been greater than ever. “I am delighted to continue in the role as the sector moves through


assessment supporting skill development. She said: “As we enter economic recovery EDA businesses are looking to recruit new talent and increase their existing staff skills sets. Hot topics for training include digitalisation, virtual selling, cyber security, team leading and sustainability. “Helping EDA businesses maximise their training budgets by taking full advantage of government subsidies and fully-funded courses is key. The training and apprenticeship landscape is busy and can be confusing and at this point in the recovery business leaders need support. I do the groundwork and handpick training courses that I know EDA businesses may be interested in and we make these available through our newly launched online Training Course Directory.” Tracy is also representing the electrotechnical


Tracy Hewett EDA Education and Training Consultant


recovery and, all being well, to reintroduce the face-to-face events and Forums that were such a mainstay of the Association’s work. Like everyone, I am keen to get back out there and to catch up with our members in person.”


Demand for training and apprenticeships climbs as EDA helps businesses upskill Demand from electrotechnical businesses for training courses and apprenticeships has increased substantially in Q1 of 2021 says the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA), coinciding with the launch of an enhanced package of training support for its members following the appointment of training expert, Tracy Hewett, at the end of 2020. Tracy brings with her a wealth of experience having spent the last 30


years in a variety of roles within the post-16 education sector she has a vast knowledge of qualifications, apprenticeships, funding, course creation and


28 | electrical wholesalerJune 2021


sector on the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) Industry Skills Plan for the UK Construction Sector 2021-25.


EDA businesses donate £45,121 to the EIC The generosity of Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) Members and Affiliated Members is behind a £45,121 donation to the Electrical Industries Charity. The EDA offered Members and Affiliated Members a one-time 10 percent refund on their 2020 membership fee, and the chance to donate it to the Charity. Margaret Fitzsimons, CEO at the EDA, explains: “In 2020 our EDA events calendar went on hold and, although the Association was extremely busy working to support EDA businesses through the pandemic, the Board of Management felt that we could, as a one-time gesture, offer a 10 percent refund on the EDA annual subscription giving members the opportunity to donate that refund to the Charity. We were delighted when almost all members chose to donate their refund to the charity. I should add that some of the organisations chose to remain anonymous.”


ewnews.co.uk


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