Magician Ben Hanlin hosted the Electrical Distributors’ Association’s (EDA) annual Education & Training Awards in front of over 500 guests at the Association’s Annual Dinner on Thursday 3 March 2022. Nine high performing leaders from EDA wholesalers and manufacturers received Investor in Training trophies.
Performing his own brand of mind-bending magic, and a truly amazing envelope trick, Ben presented trophies to nine managers hand-picked from over 350 EDA member businesses. This year’s winners are:
- Simon Thwaite, Commercial Director, T.N. Robinson Ltd in Stockport, part of the ANEW buying group
- Adrian Harrison, Customer Support Manager, 3 Line Electrical Wholesale in Norwich, part of the AWEBB buying group
- Andy Procter, Group Manager Redditch, CEF
- Alec Smith, Profit Centre Manager, Electric Center in Dudley, part of Edmundson Electrical Ltd
- Simon Pates, Director, AT&T (GB) Ltd, part of the Fegime UK Ltd buying group. This is a posthumous award collected on Simon’s behalf by Denise Hermon
- Marc Roberts, Manager, Facilities Management National Contact Centre for Rexel UK Ltd in Warrington
- Nicky Pearce, Centre Manager, Stearn Electric Co Ltd in Leighton Buzzard
- Tony Hughes, Managing Director, Strike Electrical Distributors Ltd in Walsall, part of The IBA Buying Group
- Grant Dixon, Managing Director, Securi-Flex Ltd, an EDA Affiliate Manufacturer
EDA President, CEF’s Chris Ashworth, who presented the EDA trophies alongside Perry Jones, Head of Partnerships at sponsors EDA Apprenticeships Plus, said: “These Investor in Training trophy winners recognise that when you look after your people they will do great things for your business. Training isn’t a perk, it is the lifeblood of your organisation. At a time when it is challenging to find and recruit new talent for your team, it’s far better to develop the people you already have: in return they will work hard for your business because they are valued and motivated.”
Margaret Fitzsimons, CEO at the EDA, added: “These EDA Awards are proof positive that the UK’s electrotechnical sector invests in the professional development of its people. While the number of Awards we can present each year is limited, there are thousands of inspiring stories of people building their skills and careers through training and making a fantastic contribution to their businesses in return. This is a great story to tell in the drive to attract the best and brightest talent to the UK’s electrotechnical sector.”
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