12 July 2016

Quartzelec’s Manchester based building services engineering business has just picked up another prestigious Electrical Contractors’ Association Annual Award – this year receiving the ‘Excellence in Training and Development Award’ – which was announced at a gala ceremony held at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales on Friday 8th July.

“We are truly proud to have this year won the ECA ‘Excellence in Training and Development Award’ which will sit alongside the ECA ‘Large Contractor of the Year’ award we picked up last year,” explained Martin Broughton, General Manager for Quartzelec’s Manchester operation. “We felt it was the right time to enter the training and development category with this the only category for which we submitted an entry this year - so it was all or nothing – and  are delighted to have won external recognition for the importance that Quartzelec, right across the company, places on developing our people.” 

Training and development has been a key factor in Quartzelec achieving a 30%+ year-on-year growth in its Manchester business over the past five years, despite the tough economic conditions. Quartzelec increased its training spend for 2016 by 20% and invests significantly in training each year with all staff actively encouraged to expand their professional qualifications as this directly supports and enhances the business strategy and delivers tangible returns.  Building on earlier successes, we have this year seen employees attain; degrees in construction related courses, plus HNC’s in Construction and Electrical & Electronic Engineering, as well as our throughput of apprentices (all on NVQ day-release courses) all successfully passing their current years course with top grades.

However, it is not just the engineering disciplines that Quartzelec focuses on, as staff in various operational, logistical and management roles are also supported in their ongoing development, including participation in the nationally recognised Continual Professional Development (CPD) programme. A prime example; nine staff within one area of the business developed and implemented building information and 3D modelling skills which now helps them better understand, develop and communicate project decisions.

“The academic and professional training our staff receive is first rate but a key feature in the overall success of our Training and Development programme is the support and motivation provided by both colleagues and management across the business along with the ‘on-the-job’ training they receive,” concluded Martin Broughton. “Our active apprenticeship programme is also designed to develop the engineers and ultimately managers we’ll need to continue to grow the business, so part of this programme includes residential training which helps them develop vital management skills; developing more effective team working, better awareness of and response to customers’ requirements, good work planning and communications skills, which when combined with the technical skills, help us better understand, deliver and meet project requirements.”

In addition to the academic success and statistical evidence with regards how the training and development positively impacts the business, Quartzelec also provided in their submission to the ECA, supporting examples of how customer satisfaction results and positive feedback had increased; how staff morale has remained high and how this has helped maintain a confident, knowledgeable and productive workforce; how, through ongoing training, better budget and project management had been achieved; and most importantly how this all has a positive impact on both the quality of the work delivered which directly helps achieve further business growth.

Other ECA Awards presented on the night included; WT Parker winning Large Contractor of the Year Award which was sponsored by Schneider UK; and Imtech UK winning the ABB sponsored Best Health and Safety Initiative Award. The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) was founded in 1901 and is the UK’s leading association representing the business interests of electrical contractors.