One of the longest-standing awards across the electrical and electronic industries – the ECA Edmundson Electrical Awards – has been radically reshaped and re-launched today, to appeal to a new wave of motivated, tech-savvy and technically excellent electricians and engineers. The awards, which have been running since 1975, have helped successful apprentices – and more recently adult trainees – to gain recognition for their high quality work and consequently, rise up the ranks through the electrotechnical industry. There is an array of prizes and opportunities on offer to those entering the awards, including:

• A unique trip overseas, worth thousands of pounds, for the national winners
• Thousands of pounds worth of cash prizes to regional and national winners
• State of the art toolkits for the national winners
• Certificate of commendation for all regional winners and runners up
• Formal recognition and role as an industry ambassador for national winners
• Promotional opportunities for the firms who winning entrants work for

The 11 regional winners will be announced in late June, before a further national judging process over the summer. The national winner will be announced in September, during a prestigious event attended by a range of industry leaders and the shortlisted candidates. Edmundson Electrical Managing Director Gordon Love said: "Edmundson Electrical has trained hundreds of apprentices and continues to significantly invest in the development of our staff. People make a company and people make an industry - through the ECA Edmundson Electrical Awards we aim to identify people who can be great ambassadors for our industry and also demonstrate to companies who don't currently invest in apprenticeships the benefits of doing so. “The electrotechnical industry is growing both in traditional areas and in new technologies, such as renewables, data communications and fire and security. We need to make young people aware of the breadth of opportunities available to them, and the exciting careers on offer, and we urge ECA Members to enter these awards.” ECA Chief Executive Steve Bratt commented: “The ECA is delighted to partner with Edmundson Electrical in these awards. There is intense competition for young talent and there can be misleading impressions about the type of work and career opportunities within our industry. The ECA Edmundson Electrical Awards are a fantastic way of recognising the achievements of young people in our member companies, and the support that our members give to the development of their workforce. “In addition to the apprentice training going on in the larger contractors, the electrotechnical industry is unique in the level of investment that small and micro businesses make in training - a message we have successfully passed to government.  The next duo of ambassadors from this year's awards will help us to reinforce that message and show that building engineering services is a fantastic sector in which to work, and to build a successful career.” Last year’s Apprentice of the Year Mike O’Donovan of T Clarke has seen his career go from strength to strength in just a matter of months, managing electrical engineering projects in Wales. While 2014 Adult Trainee of the Year and former soldier Gareth Morris of Ayjay Group has led high-profile projects, including a major electrical reinstallation at a flooded supermarket store in Carlisle. Source: http://professional-electrician.com/news/major-electrical-training-awards-relaunched/