It’s been a busy few months in the electrical industry, with new appointments and shake-ups across different sectors. Keep up to date with the latest movements here, as we details who has gone where…

Ben Swift, Lee Hems & Samuel Ferriday

OVIA

Ovia has announced three key appointments to its UK sales team as the business continues its strong growth trajectory. Ben Swift has joined as Regional Sales Manager for the Southern Region. Ben brings over 20 years of experience within the electrical industry, predominantly in lighting and the wholesale market. His career includes senior roles with a number of leading players in this sector.

Joining Ben’s Southern team is Lee Hems, appointed Area Sales Manager for East Anglia and Essex. Lee brings over six years of experience in the specification lighting market, having progressed through several technical and customer facing roles. Lee’s strong technical background, customer‑focused approach and deep understanding of lighting solutions will support Ovia’s continued expansion across the region.

Ovia also welcomes Samuel Ferriday as Area Sales Manager for the West Midlands. Samuel joins with over a decade of experience in the electrical wholesale sector, having progressed through sales, account management and branch management roles.

Flavie Lowres

RECOLIGHT

Recolight has announced the appointment of Flavie Lowres as Environmental Metrics Manager. Flavie will play a pivotal role in supporting the lighting industry in the adoption of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Flavie joins Recolight with a distinguished track record in Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), EPDs, and the circular economy of construction products and buildings. Flavie is a fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and chairs their Construction Materials Group Board and is also Sustainability Champion at the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS).

Dr James Ezhaya

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

Schneider Electric has appointed Dr. James Ezhaya as Senior Vice President, Industrialization and Supply Chain for the Power Products Division. The appointment reflects Schneider Electric’s continued focus on strengthening industrial execution and supply chain performance to support the division’s growth and customer needs.

James has served as the Vice President of Quality & Customer Satisfaction, Sustainability and Operational Excellence for the Power Products Division, joining Power Products in 2022. He has demonstrated his ability to strengthen quality performance, accelerate sustainability integration, and embed continuous improvement disciplines across the division.

Catch up on previous months ‘Movers and shakers’ articles here

The post Movers and Shakers | May 2026 appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

Marshall-Tufflex has opened a new Customer Experience Centre in Manchester, creating a dedicated facility for customers and partners across the electrical industry.

The purpose-built centre has been designed as a hub for meetings, product demonstrations and training, allowing the company to host customer visits, CPD sessions and technical presentations. It also provides visitors with the opportunity to explore Marshall-Tufflex’s cable management solutions and discuss applications with members of the company’s team.

The facility showcases a wide range of cable management systems, including Basor metal cable management products such as wire basket, ladder, tray and trunking systems. Visitors can also view the company’s PVC-U cable management range, which includes trunking and conduit manufactured using recycled PVC-U.

Other displays highlight Marshall-Tufflex’s underfloor-to-desk solutions designed to manage power and data connections from raised floors to workstations, as well as GRP cable management systems suited to harsh or corrosive environments.

In addition to product displays, the centre includes meeting and training facilities, featuring a conference room that can accommodate up to 18 guests in a boardroom layout or 35 theatre style. Two breakout rooms, seating four and eight people respectively, are also available for smaller meetings and discussions.

Marshall-Tufflex says the new Manchester facility reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting contractors and wholesalers with practical environments where they can learn more about products, applications and best practice.

Find more industry news here

The post Marshall-Tufflex opens new Manchester Customer Experience Centre appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

It’s been a busy few months in the electrical industry, with new appointments and shake-ups across different sectors. Keep up to date with the latest movements here, as we details who has gone where…

Chris Pereira

FOCUS SB

Chris Pereira has been appointed as Business Development Manager at Focus SB. A familiar face in the bespoke electrical accessories industry, Chris Pereira will be covering the Midlands and Home Counties in his new role. Chris Pereira’s career journey began with three years of study in electrical and electrotechnical engineering at college. He then worked as a teacher for students with special needs while continuing to search for an opportunity within the electrical industry. For eight years, Chris worked as an electrician for a small, private firm that offered a diverse range of projects. This experience allowed him to build valuable electrical and customer support skills, which contributed to both his professional growth and drive for new challenges.

Gordon Ross

VCHRGD

UK EV charging technology manufacturer VCHRGD has announced the appointment of Gordon Ross as the company’s first Marketing Director, marking a significant step in its continued growth across the UK EV charging ecosystem.

Gordon will work with the VCHRGD leadership team to strengthen the company’s brand presence and support expansion across key market segments including installer and wholesale partnerships, energy supplier integrations, fleet electrification and EV salary sacrifice schemes.

Gordon has already been working closely with the VCHRGD team on several recent marketing initiatives, including supporting the launch of the company’s energy supplier integration with Octopus, helping develop the Partner Spotlight programme highlighting installer and technology collaborations, and building the business’s marketing roadmap for the year ahead.

Clair Mowbray

CERTSURE

Certsure, the organisation behind NICEIC, has announced the appointment of Clair Mowbray as Chief Executive Officer, effective 30 March 2026.

A proven CEO, Clair joins Certsure having led nationally significant, safety-critical organisations including The Fire Service College and the National College for High Speed Rail. She brings extensive experience in delivering technical excellence, operating within complex sectors, and working closely with industry and government to strengthen the development of skills and talent pipelines.

As CEO, Clair will be responsible for Certsure’s future strategic direction and will lead the organisation’s vital work to safeguard public safety, raise standards, and uphold the highest levels of technical competence. She will focus on strengthening Certsure’s industry-leading position to deliver even greater value for its customers, and will work collaboratively with stakeholders and government to ensure NICEIC-certified businesses – and the wider sector – are well positioned to meet the needs of today and the evolving demands of tomorrow.

Andy Munson

EXI-TITE

As part of an ongoing commitment to strengthening its team and supporting continued business growth, HVAC supplier Exi-tite has appointed Andy Munson as Regional Sales Manager – London, and Trevor Girvan as Technical Engineer.

Andy Munson joins the business with 46 years of experience in the HVAC industry. During his career, he has worked with organisations including Space Air (Daikin distributor), Toshiba Air Conditioning and CIAT. His background includes heat pumps, air conditioning, heating units and dehumidification systems.

Georgia Burke & Dave Velan

DRAYTON

Drayton has further bolstered its regional sales team with the appointments of Georgia Burke as Area Sales Manager for the Central Region and Dave Velan as Area Sales Manager for the North East.

In his role, Dave covers the east side of Northern England, including Hull and East Yorkshire, through to the North East corner of Scotland. Dave brings extensive industry experience, including several roles that span a total of 23 years with City Plumbing, where he was most recently a Senior Account Manager within the regional team. Dave also spent seven years focusing on social housing within the national team before returning to a regional position covering the North East and Cumbria.

In her new position, Georgia is responsible for specification across social housing, new build developments and large contractors. Her focus is on developing strong customer relationships, identifying new opportunities, and supporting specification processes to help drive growth throughout the Central Region of the country.

Georgia joins Drayton with over a decade of experience within the industry behind her. She previously spent six years at Grundfos, where she developed strong commercial and technical expertise.

Catch up on previous months ‘Movers and shakers’ articles here

The post Movers and Shakers | April 2026 appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

Paul Foulkes, Country Manager at Theben Automation, discusses the brand’s sustainability journey which started more than 100 years ago.

Sustainability in the electrical industry can sometimes feel like something that happens ‘somewhere else’ – in tender documents, environmental, social and governance (ESG) scorecards and corporate reports. Meanwhile, on site, the realities are far more basic: you want kit that works, turns up on time, lasts, and doesn’t create a mountain of waste to haul back to the van.

But the gap between those two worlds is closing. More projects now ask not only what a product does but how it’s made, what it’s made from, and what happens at end of life. That’s why it’s worth looking at sustainability through a lens that actually matches how the trade works: the product lifecycle.

At Theben, we’ve been thinking in those terms for a long time. Our story begins in 1921, when precision engineer Paul Schwenk started developing time switches. A time switch is a simple idea, but it carries a bigger message: buildings don’t need to run at full tilt all the time. They can be controlled, timed and made more efficient, long before ‘ESG’ was a common phrase.

Sustainability as a mindset, not a manifesto

There’s a temptation in corporate sustainability to drown people in technical detail.

Certifications, acronyms, scorecards. Those things have their place, but they don’t always land with the people who specify, stock and install electrical products.

What matters more is the simple principle we lean on: if we want to reduce impact, we can’t just tweak one thing. We have to look at the full story – where materials come from, how products are made and shipped, how they’re packaged and what happens at the end. That’s why we talk about the product lifecycle and everything that goes with it.

That ‘product lifecycle’ perspective can sound formal, but it’s really just common sense. If something is unreliable, hard to fit, over-packaged or replaced too soon, it creates waste, in materials and in man-hours. If it lasts, performs consistently and arrives without unnecessary rubbish, it reduces waste without anyone needing to make a big speech about it.

The long-term view

Looking back over 100 years, you can see that environmental thinking showed up decades ago in practical ways. For example, our history notes that in 1964 we installed a modern detoxification system to remove harmful substances from wastewater, alongside planted green spaces around the site. That isn’t a modern ESG campaign. It’s a snapshot of Theben making tangible operational choices – the kind that don’t get applause, but do change impact over time.

We’ve also linked comfort and efficiency for decades. In the 1960s, our heating controls were described as “comfort plus economy,” including night setback to help reduce fuel consumption. Different era, same aim: better control, less waste, better outcomes for the people using the building.

And when we talk about design, something we’ve invested in since working with

recognised designers in the 1970s, it’s not only about aesthetics. Good design supports usability and longevity. It helps create products people don’t want to replace simply because they feel dated or awkward.

Making it easier to do the right thing

Sustainability becomes real when it removes friction for the people doing the work. That’s why we focus on the unglamorous areas where decisions stack up: how products move through the supply chain, how they’re produced, how they’re packaged and how they can be handled responsibly at end-of-life.

On the packaging side, for example, our direction is to reduce unnecessary packaging and cut down plastic where we can, replacing it with cardboard or paper where it makes sense. It’s not the flashiest part of sustainability, but it’s one of the most visible to installers because it affects van waste, site housekeeping and disposal.

We also talk about the end of the lifecycle because it’s increasingly part of how products are judged. It’s not just “can it be recycled?” but “what happens next?”

That’s why our sustainability work includes how products can be returned into material cycles and how we look at more circular approaches over time.

One for all – all for one

Policies help, but culture decides whether anything changes. That’s why we’re open about the fact that sustainability only works if everyone owns it. Our “One for all – all for one” message puts it simply: sustainability, climate change and ecological diversity concern all of us – from apprentices to the board – and every contribution counts. We try to bring that to life in practical ways, whether that’s encouraging ideas that reduce day-to-day waste, supporting biodiversity initiatives, or looking for small changes that add up across a year.

What this means for the wholesale channel

The questions customers are asking are getting broader. It’s no longer only “does it meet the spec?” but also “does it meet the expectation?” That expectation now includes sustainability, not always in detail, but in credibility.

From a wholesale perspective, the value is in backing brands that can tell a consistent story: long-term thinking, practical improvements and a culture that treats sustainability as day-to-day responsibility, not a once-a-year announcement.

If we can keep sustainability grounded – less waste, better durability and more transparency across the lifecycle – then we’re not just responding to ESG trends. We’re continuing what we started back in 1921: helping buildings behave more intelligently, and helping the people who build them deliver better outcomes with less waste along the way.

Find more on this topic here

Catch up on previous ‘Soapbox’ articles here

The post Theben’s sustainability journey | Soapbox appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

It’s been a busy few months in the electrical industry, with new appointments and shake-ups across different sectors. Keep up to date with the latest movements here, as we details who has gone where…

Nick Atkinson

FIREANGEL

FireAngel has strengthened its wholesaler focus through National Account Manager Nick Atkinson, who has joined the business to drive engagement with national and independent wholesalers across the UK. Nick brings a wealth of trade experience in the electrical wholesale and distribution sector, having held senior roles at several major industry brands. With an extensive background in national account development, sales leadership and contractor engagement, he has built a strong reputation for helping trade wholesalers grow market share while supporting installers with the tools, training and products required to deliver compliant, professional installations.

Cameron Wilson

RECOLIGHT

Recolight has announced the appointment of a new director, Cameron Wilson, who will represent Signify on the Recolight board. Cameron has been with Signify for over 25 years and is the Customer Resolution Manager for UK and Ireland. Cameron joins as a non-Executive Director representing Recolight’s founding members along with board chair Andreas Adam, Senior Director at LEDVANCE, Andrew Clark, Financial Controller at Feilo Sylvania UK, and Steven Reed, Commercial Manager at Trilux.

Paul White

IBA

The IBA Buying Group has appointed Paul White as Chief Membership Officer. Paul brings more than two decades of experience in the electrical wholesale industry, having held senior roles at Edmundson Electrical, CEF, and Rexel since joining the sector in 2001. In this newly enhanced leadership role, Paul will focus on ensuring the IBA continues to strengthen its position as the natural home for independent electrical wholesalers. His remit includes driving member value, deepening supplier partnerships, and shaping the next phase of the Group’s commercial evolution.

Lewis Wassell

TRIDONIC UK

Tridonic UK has welcomed Lewis Wassell to the team as Controls and Solutions Sales Engineer, joining the Projects and Solutions division to support customers across the UK with advanced lighting controls and building optimisation strategies.

With a career spanning 17 years in the electrical and controls industry, Lewis brings extensive experience from his time at WAGO and Schneider Electric. His broad technical background and hands-on project experience position him strongly to support Tridonic’s mission of delivering smarter, data-driven building solutions.

Peter Lawson

OVERLAND SHOES

Overland Shoes has appointed Peter Lawson as Brand Manager to lead the launch of Bobcat Safety Footwear – backed by a specialist sales force. With over two decades of commercial leadership across global footwear markets, Peter brings extensive expertise from senior roles at Reebok, FILA, Radley and Hi-Tec Sports International, where he served as Managing Director of its Magnum and Hi-Tec international businesses. Most recently, he strengthened his PPE market expertise through senior positions at Blackrock workplace PPE and Toffeln.

Now at Overland Shoes, Peter is responsible for leading the strategy and market roll-out of Bobcat Safety Footwear, fusing global innovation with British expertise for real-world performance.

Catch up on previous months ‘Movers and shakers’ articles here

The post Movers and Shakers | January/February 2026 appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

In 2025, the Electrical Industries Charity celebrated 120 years of supporting our industry. To commemorate this milestone, the charity set a bold challenge: to raise an additional £120,000. In early November that target was smashed and an impressive £130,000 has now been raised.

To mark 120 years, EIC launched the 120 Challenge Calendar, inviting the community to take part from home and show their support in creative ways. The very first challenge was to “bail out” trustees and the EIC management team, who spent the day locked up in a makeshift jail in the middle of nowhere. Thankfully, the community banded together to bail them out and kick-start the 120th year celebrations with a bang.

Managing Director, Jess, led the charge throughout 2025, taking on a series of incredible fundraising challenges. Her mission was to rally 1,000 supporters from across the UK to each raise £120 for the Electrical Industries Charity — all while experiencing new thrills and overcoming personal challenges along the way.

In honour of the four nations we serve, Jess completed one challenge in each country:

Wales (March): Jess began her journey by ziplining over Penrhyn Quarry. This combined with the efforts of the Jail or Bail challenge raised an impressive £15,000 towards the total.

Scotland (April): She and a team of supporters took on the Glasgow Kiltwalk, boosting the total to £21,000 in the process.

England (July): Jess and a growing team of supporters walked over 20 miles in the Thames River Path Challenge, bringing the tally to £50,000

Northern Ireland (October): The final challenge saw Jess and her supporters abseil from Belfast’s iconic Europa Hotel. The total was now at £109,000.

A Community Effort

Throughout the year, the community truly went above and beyond. Supporters took on bungee jumps, cycled 55 miles, skydived from 14,000ft, completed triathlons, ran marathons, baked cakes, dressed up, and so much more — all in the name of raising vital funds for the charity.

Reflecting on this massive success, Jess says she was inspired to see the community come together for a good cause. “It’s been an absolute pleasure completing the #JoinJess challenged this year. Seeing the community rally together with the shared goal of raising vital funds for our charity was truly something special.

“Now that we’ve achieved this milestone, it’s important that we look to the future and keep the momentum going so that the EIC can continue to offer vital support to our community for another 120 years and beyond.”

If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved- whether as a volunteer, supporter, or committee member, click here

Find more industry features here

The post A fundraising milestone to mark 120 years | Electrical Industries Charity appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

Working alongside its members, ECA will reflect on 125 years of progress while focusing on the future through four themes: legacy and leadership; skills and apprenticeships; technology and transformation; and trust, integrity and value.

The anniversary celebrations will launch with a film highlighting the journey ECA and its members have taken together, followed by a series of videos showcasing the vital work members do to power homes, businesses and infrastructure across the UK.

Steve Bratt, Group CEO of ECA, said: “As the UK moves towards Net Zero, electrification and electrotechnical skills have never been more important. This anniversary year recognises our past impact while highlighting what must be done to support the industry’s future.”

ECA’s 125th anniversary year is sponsored by Aico, Edmundson Electrical and Schneider Electric.

Find out more at www.eca.co.uk/125 and follow #WeAreECA across social media.

Find more industry news here

The post ECA unveils activity programme to celebrate 125th anniversary year appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

Schneider Electric has launched The Learning Loop, a monthly CPD-accredited online learning programme designed to support ongoing training, upskilling, and professional development across the electrical industry in the UK and Ireland.

The new programme will offer two sessions each month, combining a CPD-accredited technical webinar with a follow-on session exploring how those principles are applied to real-world projects.

As an accredited CPD provider, Schneider Electric will issue certificates following attendance, allowing participants to log recognised CPD hours with professional bodies.

The programme builds on Schneider Electric’s established CPD offering, which saw approximately 5,000 attendees in 2025, and complements its extensive on-demand CPD library available to UK and Ireland audiences.

A variety of topics will be covered, with more to come, including:

•  January: HV Switchgear | GenieEvo: Features, Benefits & Applications
•  February: Selecting the Right Meter for Your Application | Schneider Electric’s Metering & Power Management Software
•  March: Fundamentals of Automatic Transfer Switches | Our ATS Equipment Suite – Features, Benefits & Applications
•  April: Introduction to Building | Management Systems When Buildings Speak: Translating Data into Action with Building Advisor
•  May: Surge Protection in Electrical Distribution | Latest Developments in Acti9 & Powerpact 4 – Including SPDs
•  June: Fundamentals of Busbar in Electrical Distribution | Schneider Electric’s Busbar Portfolio & Applications

The Learning Loop launch reflects growing demand across the electrical industry for structured, accredited training as technologies and standards continue to evolve. 

Find more industry news here

The post Schneider Electric launches The Learning Loop appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

David Pownall, Vice President of Power Systems for Schneider Electric UK & Ireland, has seen first-hand how vital community, innovation, and compassion are to the industry’s success. As a trustee for the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC), he’s committed to helping the charity stay relevant and resilient as it enters its next era of support.

David had known about the EIC for much of his career but became more involved after joining Schneider Electric six years ago. “I’d known about the charity for years,” he says, “but it was really through Schneider that I began to understand the scale and impact of the EIC’s work.”

Through Schneider’s wellbeing initiatives and the EIC’s mental health and training support, David saw the charity’s work in action. “It just connected,” he says. “What Schneider stands for and what the EIC delivers overlap in a really meaningful way.”

Building a more connected industry 

For David, one of the most powerful aspects of the EIC’s work is how it brings together such a wide and varied industry. “This industry is incredibly diverse,” he explains. “If you look at utilities or generation, you’ve got more structure, but then you move into this network of independent contractors, self-employed people, and small firms – thousands and thousands of them. What the EIC does is create a sense of connection across all of that in a way that hasn’t happened before.”

He believes this sense of unity is essential for the future. “If we’re going to do more to look after each other and build something that’s more than just a trade, then that’s where I see the EIC as being really important.”

Celebrating milestones

To celebrate 120 years of the EIC, David has been helping to raise awareness within Schneider Electric and across the wider industry. From promoting the anniversary across internal communications to taking part in fundraising events, his enthusiasm for the cause is clear. “Jess put me in prison for a day,” he laughs. “It was absolutely freezing, and she didn’t let me out until I’d raised enough money to secure my bail. But it was great fun and a brilliant way to start the year, and we raised a fantastic amount for the charity.”

Looking ahead

As a trustee, David’s focus is firmly on the future. “For me, the question is: how do we make sure the EIC is still relevant in another 20 years – and in another 120 years?” he says. “The world is changing. It’s digitising, electrifying, and moving away from fossil fuels. That’s creating new opportunities but also challenges for people in our industry. Jobs are shifting, new skills are needed, and we’ve got to make sure the charity keeps adapting to that.”

David is particularly passionate about engaging younger generations and supporting apprentices as they enter the sector. “There’s a huge number of people who’ll retire in the next decade,” he explains. “We’ve got to make sure we’re attracting the next set of people who’ll carry the EIC forward. Unless people understand the value of charity and are prepared to invest their time, our future isn’t secure. That’s why I love the work around apprentices and the Emerging Professionals Board. It’s about planting that seed early and showing people why this matters.”

A collaborative vision 

One of the aspects David enjoys most about being a trustee is the opportunity to work with peers from across the sector. “You spend your life in your own bubble. I live in the Schneider bubble, others are in their own,” he says. “But when you come together as trustees, you get this mix of perspectives from every corner of the industry. Everyone’s looking at the same issues through a different lens. It’s fascinating, and I’ve learned a lot from it.”

If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved – whether as a volunteer, supporter or committee member, click here

Find more industry features here

The post Connection, change, and the future of the EIC appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

It’s been a busy few months in the electrical industry, with new appointments and shake-ups across different sectors. Keep up to date with the latest movements here, as we details who has gone where…

Robin Grosse

SIEMENS ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS AND ELECTRIUM

Robin Grosse has been appointed Managing Director of Electrium and Siemens Electrical Products (EP). Robin brings over a decade of deep expertise in product management and sales across hardware and software within the Electrical Products business. Robin’s leadership will strengthen Electrium and Siemens’ commitment to excellence, drive continued growth and innovation, and foster even closer partnerships with valued customers.

Jordan Charran & Barnaby Chapman

OVIA

Ovia has appointed two new Area Sales Managers, with Jordan Charran appointed in the Southwest region, and Barnaby Chapman covering South Wales, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. Jordan brings a wealth of industry experience to the role, with over a decade in the electrical sector, while Barnaby brings with him four years of experience in the electrical wholesale sector, having held both internal and external sales positions. These appointments form part of Ovia’s ongoing commitment to invest in regional support and deliver outstanding service and solutions to its customer base.

Paul Sawyer, Alistair Lishman & James Louriero

CLICK SCOLMORE

Scolmore Group has announced the expansion of its Click sales team with the appointment of three new Area Sales Managers. Paul Sawyer has been appointed as Area Sales Manager for the East of England, covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Essex. Alistair Lishman will cover the Lancashire and Merseyside regions, while James Loureiro will cover West Yorkshire. The appointment of Alistair, James and Paul marks a significant step in the ongoing development of the Click Scolmore brand. Their combined experience and regional expertise will ensure that customers across these key areas continue to receive the highest level of service, support, and access to innovative wiring accessories and circuit protection products.

Alice Williams

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

Schneider Electric has appointed Alice Williams as VP Digital Energy UK&I. Alice’s role will be to drive growth and impact across the UK and Ireland Digital Energy business. She will focus on delivering end-user energy savings and more resilient, efficient operations for customers through Schneider’s innovative energy management and automation solutions. Alice succeeds Kasim Mohammed who took on the role of VP for Services UK&I earlier this year.

Catch up on previous months ‘Movers and shakers’ articles here

The post Movers & Shakers | December 2025 appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.