COMPANY NEWS
Shane Casey Electrical Services – winners of Hager’s Install of the Month.
Hager Invicta Distribution Board Installation by Shane Case.
right direction. Luckily, I think that the younger generation of apprentices and electricians are certainly taking a lot of pride in their work. And I think Hager’s Install of the Month incentive really brings that to life. When the guys and girls tag that in their social media posts, you know they have put their heart and soul into trying their level best to do a fantastic job of the install they are carrying out. Obviously, there is plenty of room to improve in certain areas of the trade, but all in all, I think Ireland has one of the best standards to work and strive towards, among other countries. Has an electrical contractor’s role changed much since you first set up SCES? SC: Massively. I was a one-man band when I first set up SCES in 2012, doing mainly domestic work on one-off houses, extensions, callouts and breakdowns. Fast forward 10 years, and we currently have a team of 12 guys on the ground direct, two in the office, one Quantity Surveyor and a team of subcontractors.
Unfortunately, I don’t get to be on the tools half as much I would like anymore, and I find that very difficult, as I love being hands on in our installations. But when I do get to work on the tools, I love every minute of it - more so, if I have a set of the infamous (blue) Hager screwdrivers in my hands! In recent years, we have all had a lot to deal with, increased cost of living, cost of material, pandemics, and a labour shortage throughout the entire construction sector. The electrical contractor now has a key role to play in the design of projects, and it is great to see design teams taking on board what we have to say with regard to the use of new products and materials to make the job faster, cheaper and more productive. What advice would you give apprentices starting out in this industry? SC: This is a tough one… Here’s what I think is helpful: Learn to walk before you can run in this industry. Don’t stop asking questions (you will never know everything about the
electrical industry, and neither will any of us, so always seek information). If you are working within a progressive company with good mentors, don’t chase the next 50c or euro by jumping to another company where you won’t get that training and experience. Invest in your tools from very early on. Buy once and buy right. I still have my very first multimeter I bought in my first year in 2007, and it continues to work perfectly. In my personal opinion, the electrical trade is one of the best apprenticeships out there. The options you have once you qualify are endless. Your trade will be invaluable to you forever. How do you think the global drive towards energy efficiency is affecting the industry in Ireland? SC: It is definitely going in the right direction. You can see that by the vast number of renewables that people and businesses are putting in. We have installed solar photo voltaic and storage on our own offices and stores to try and curtail the spiralling costs of energy.
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IRELAND’S ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 43
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