A commonly held school of thought is that we don’t know what we don’t know. This is especially true for the countless electrical contracting projects currently underway up and down New Zealand.
What we do know, however, is that Master Electricians’ (ME) membership – which numbers about 1,200 electrical contracting businesses, employing upwards of 7,000 workers – is working tirelessly to provide clients with innovative products and high-quality solutions to some often extraordinary problems.
Celebrating those projects, and every intricate detail, has been part and parcel of Master Electricians’ responsibility to its members – to highlight the industry’s best.
The platform for doing so is the Master Electricians Excellence Awards 2022, in association with ETCO.
The biennial competition has been in existence for more than a decade, and never fails to impress judges, members, and even the general public, ME National Operations Manager Mathew Lawrence says.
Previous winners’ entries are perfect examples of the quality of the industry’s work.
The 2019 Innovation Award winner, EIS Electrical & Automation, pipped other competitive entries with its “game changer” – a project engineered specifically for aiding the installation of Motor Control Centres (MCCs).
“These awards are the perfect vehicle through which to recognise the hard graft, and innovative ideas, the industry is working on – often unseen,” Mat says.
“We know our members are involved in some amazing projects, and so often punching above their weight, so why not sing their efforts from the rooftops.
“Ours is a big sector with lots of moving parts, so to be able to celebrate and showcase the very best is crucial – not just for the sector but also the winning companies, organisations, and individuals who will have bragging rights for the next two years.”
He encourages all and sundry to submit entries – closing date for accepting an entry is 30 June – as there is no downside to doing so. Better still, there is no cost involved.
There are seven categories to submit entries for:
1. Emerging Business Award
2. Lighting Award
3. Project Awards
4. Energy Efficiency Award
5. Innovation Award
6. Industry Champion Award
7. Master Electrician of the Year
Finalists will be announced on 1 September and a ceremony will be held at Sky Stadium in Wellington on 14 October.
The Apprenticeship Challenge is also running concurrently with the Awards, with the winners announced at the ceremony.
Winning Gold, Silver and Bronze in any given award category is a point of difference that many companies utilise to further their business’ reputation, Mat says.
“Bragging rights aside, differentiating yourself from your competitors is a crucial marketing tool to cement yourself among the best in the sector”.
Another example of winners gone by was the Rawhiti Retirement Home’s two-year project, which took Bronze in the Lighting Design Award.
From developing the lighting design through to onsite supply of 2,400 fittings, Lightplan worked carefully through each stage with electrical engineers from Team Cabling. The end result was outstanding on all accounts.
Each year, customers’ expectations and ME members’ innovation continue to push the sector’s level of calibre, Mat says.
“The electrical industry’s innovation could possibly be put down to two things –
a customer’s expectations and an electrical contractor’s ability to utilise the best technology and techniques to complete a project.”
So, what tips can Mat offer someone thinking about submitting an entry?
“Put your best foot forward from the outset and blow away the judges. Be clear and concise about your project’s details – customer expectations, health and safety, and budget.
“Play to your strengths – your business-as- usual might be so excellent as to take the award home on the night. And get the whole team involved to agree on the process and get stuck in.”
For more information, visit
www.masterelectricians.org.nz/events/ master-electricians-excellence-awards/
