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

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In this month’s Face to Face we speak with Gary Stevens, Managing Director of Focus SB, to find out more about the company and the ever changing wiring accessories market.

What are the origins of Focus SB as a British manufacturer?

We commenced trading in 1979 under the name Sussex Brassware and the main product offering was architectural ironmongery which then led to the introduction of a range of electrical accessories utilising third party electrical inserts and assembling into our own in-house produced and finished plates.

After some changes to the company structure Focus Electrical was born and was a separate entity to Sussex Brassware. Some years later the two companies joined forces under the name Focus SB and we acquired the toolmaking company that were up to that point producing the plates for our electrical accessories. It was also around this time that it was decided to shed the architectural ironmongery products in favour of focusing on electrical accessories.

In 2016, Focus SB launched its own range of electrical inserts to become totally stand alone and the only company in its sector to boast in-house capabilities of metal plate manufacture, finishing and assembly of its own range of electrical inserts.

In that time we can also boast a number of firsts, including the first (and only premium electrical accessories manufacturer in our industry) outside of mainland China to be certified by their national quality standards authority to design and manufacture a range of ‘CCC’ products outside of the country to sell back into China, and that formed the basis of our King’s Awards for Enterprise winning entry in 2023.

Another first was the development and launch of a double throw centre off retractive toggle switch for the lighting control and shading market in 2017.

Finally, another significant first was the design and launch of the first true flat plate screwless range of electrical accessories – Renaissance in 2023.

Made from quality stainless steel and solid brass raw materials, our product components are approved to British Standards and independently tested by Intertek for safety. We operate a Quality Management System which complies with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015.

Which wiring accessory finishes are proving popular with customers at the moment?

Anything that is either ‘antique’ or ‘aged’! Antique/Aged/Jordan/Chocolate/Dark Bronze and Aged or unlacquered brass and derivatives of those finishes are by far the most popular finishes at present and have been for some time now. We get temporary trends that are influenced by other building products, for example Matt Black has been popular over the last 12 months or so and Polished and Satin Brass seems to be making a slight comeback, but Bronze variants and Aged/Antique Brass dominate the popularity stakes.

In an increasingly crowded wiring accessories market, how does Focus SB ensure that its products stand out?

When I first came into the electrical wiring accessory manufacturing sector in 1987, there were three ‘flat plate’ grid mounting, secondary fix manufacturers in the UK and virtually no overseas competitors. Fast forward 37years and now we find that to most customers, the flat plate electrical accessory product is more of a commodity, with most manufacturers offering flat plate electrical accessories at various levels of quality, range and finish variants.

At Focus SB we have strived to set our products apart by their quality, range of finishes, bespoke offering and innovative product development. This strategy has helped us become one of the largest manufacturers of wiring accessories supplying into the luxury residential, hospitality and heritage markets, with an annual turnover of £6M purely in electrical accessories.

However, our philosophy is to not stand still and wait for the competition to catch up where the only strategy becomes price centric. We are constantly monitoring the market, gaining insight and feedback from customers, monitoring competitor activity in the UK and globally, monitoring trends in finishes and styles from competitive and allied products. Over the past four years we have worked on designing and launching two trademarked ranges.

Working in collaboration with our partners Lutron, we have designed and developed a complementary range of electrical accessories to match to their award-winning range of lighting control keypads in their flagship Alisse range. The brief was to match the style, form factor and finishes of the Alisse keypad because most interior designers and some discerning clients desire to have ‘design continuity’ on their projects.

Following on from the launch of the “Alisse by Focus SB” range, we started the process of designing a range of true flat plate screwless electrical accessories in 2021, and in 2023 the patent pending Renaissance range was launched into the market. So, what is so special about Renaissance? It is the first solid brass, flat plate screwless range on the market. Most electrical accessory manufacturers have a screwless range in their portfolio because that is what designers are looking for. However, most of those designs are based on thin plate material that is often ‘dished’ to clip onto or into a visible plastic grid, or into a visible metal frame.

The design criteria for Renaissance was to be a solid flat plate with no visible fixing screws or frame/grid (which is where the patent is based). It should also be available as standard with square corners (another feature not available with existing screwless products) and finally we need to have the ability to produce oversized and bespoke configured plates. We achieved all of this and the range was launched in 2023 and has been a phenomenal success! It now represents the biggest, most comprehensive range in our portfolio.

The big change for Focus SB as a manufacturer has been driven by the development of these two products and the trend is to go even further with this style of product with some exciting plans for expansion in the pipeline.

The main challenge to us as a manufacturer has been the transition from stamping flat plate products, to precision CNC machining of thicker solid brass materials to be able to offer that extra quality to our customers. Renaissance and Alisse electrical accessories are manufactured from 2.5mm and 3.5mm solid brass, so clients can not only see the quality of finish, but they can also feel the quality compared to thinner pressed plates. The move towards CNC machining was a relatively easy one for Focus SB because of our history, we were already part way through that journey, but we are now investing in the next generation of CNC machines and automation in order to support our strategy for the future. 

Stylised wiring accessories were historically viewed as a luxury reserved for high end projects. Are there signs they are now being considered in a wider range of installations?

They are being used in more mainstream projects now, but that ties in with the points made above where lower cost, lower quality products are available having been commoditised, but they have a more design-led appearance than the traditional dished plate metal accessories, or even white plastic electrical accessories. This is the main reason why we at Focus SB have moved into higher specification, higher quality product development as mentioned above.

We offer a high quality, sustainable alternative to ‘off-the-shelf’ plastic switches and sockets with our beautifully finished hand assembled faceplates and components specified by prominent design consultants for world class hospitality and leisure resorts, prime residential developments, heritage buildings, royal residences, superyachts and commercial projects internationally. Combining traditional methods of manufacturing complemented by the latest technology, Focus SB’s distinctive faceplates and switches feature elements of hand finishing, with every product hand assembled in Great Britain.

Do Focus offer bespoke services for custom projects?

Yes, this is covered above, but we set ourselves apart from the volume manufacturers by offering a bespoke service. We can design and manufacture to most customer specifications and very often work in collaboration with the designers at the early stages so that we can add our experience of producing bespoke products and also to be able to design for manufacture which is crucial to be able to produce something to the client’s specification and to fit with the budget and programme for the project. Bespoke includes product configuration as well as bespoke finishes to match other products, or the designers colour scheme.

What are the features and trends to look out for in 2025?

We firmly believe that the traditional approach to specifying and designing electrical accessories has moved on and that the humble light switch and socket is becoming more of a focal point and part of the designer’s story than it ever has been and will continue to be held in the same importance on a project as the lighting and architectural ironmongery. We have always used the term ‘wall jewellery’ to describe Focus SB’s electrical accessories and this is even more relevant with the new generation of electrical accessories we are providing into the market.

Find out more here

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With wiring accessories now available in a wide range of finishes, Steve Moss, Sales and Marketing Manager for Focus SB, looks at how trends impact sales. 

Trends in finishes come and go, but quality, innovation and continuity of finish are constants when it comes to the discerning customer.

Longevity vs trends

Popularity of finishes is constantly on the Focus SB radar, as the company offers in-house expertise to professional electricians, design consultants, building contractors and specifiers via project support services. Popularity of finish by can be subjective and when it comes to enquiries there is always an equivalent to the latest trends as published by home interiors magazines or national press, so that wholesalers can easily source products for customers seeking products on behalf of those who may have been inspired by the weekend newspaper style pages.

High quality products paired with bespoke components and finishes that can be matched or complemented across a wide range of standard and specialist smart home products will give wholesalers and professional electricians the edge in conversation with your customers and stand the test of time.

Electrical accessories trends

As a company, Focus SB is continually assessing just how influential trends are on the electrical accessories market and how relevant these might be, enabling the business to best support customers and wholesalers.

Metallic finishes are timeless and won’t go out of fashion. It’s very much down to personal taste when it comes to finishes, but for larger prime residential and hospitality projects it’s crucial to be able to supply multiple finished products to complement an interior designer or architect’s interior scheme. This is where Focus SB comes in with the ability to offer multiple products finished to match, from laser marked low-voltage keypads through to 8G 20A 2 way rocker grid switches or 13A switched 2 gang sockets with 18W Type A and 45W Type C Power Delivery USB ports, down to bathroom shaver sockets and kitchen cooker control units fitted with double pole 45A switches for installations where higher current ratings are required, with the option of incorporating a switched 13A socket, for example. 

Finishes for smart home tech 

Prime residential designers and architects are faced with multiple options and can choose from touch screen and multi-button scene setting controls or systems utilising simple ‘push-to-make’ retractive rocker, toggle (dolly switches), push button ‘bell pushes’ and keypads of traditional appearance with the latest low voltage programmable technology behind the cover plate. Often these retractive switches will interface with proprietary ‘whole house’ complex control system installations, programmed by the smart home integrator or electrical contractor.

With many city centre commercial, warehouse and office premises being converted for residential or mixed use, the requirement for high quality monochromatic faceplate finishes in matt white and matt black remains popular. Developers and designers will often try to utilise reclaimed building materials and look to use high quality products offering longevity such as switches, sockets and keypads with more unusual finishes to complement an overall theme.

Most clients embrace the benefits of energy efficient LED lighting, however many are less than happy to choose high tech multi-button and touch screen lighting control systems to operate the lighting. These controls in many cases will ‘jar’ in terms of visual appearance with the property’s décor and cause unnecessary complexity. Increasingly touch screen proprietary controls are being replaced (or supplemented) utilising simple ‘push-to-make’ retractive rocker, toggle switches or push buttons for a more traditional appearance.

Often these switches will interface with proprietary ‘whole house’ complex control system installations. Focus SB’s low-voltage keypads can be specified with square and round push button switches as well as with a contemporary toggle switch style, with the option for bespoke ‘hotel-style’ combination plates and are available with the new Renaissance flat screwless plate in order to evolve a one-stop shop offering for wholesalers and their customers.

We’re seeing continued desire to be able to match faceplate designs and finishes across light switches, dimming and power outlets as well as a growing demand for smart home products with a traditional aesthetic. The ability to match finishes across other specialist products such as keypad switches, Focus SB’s panic alarm button and sounder cover plates is useful for customers looking to order from just one supplier – and the fact Focus SB manufactures and finishes in-house means it’s convenient for wholesalers to source options for their customers.

Modern square corner finish

Designed with sustainability in mind, Focus SB’s innovative design-first Renaissance product offers the ultimate in minimalist style complemented by product and functionality options our customers expect from us. A rebirth of a classic style, Renaissance offers a true flat screwless plate with square corners, rather than a formed, or dished plate, or one that sits inside a frame in two pieces, or sits on a visible plastic frame, like the majority of available products on the market.

Modern ‘minimalist’ style continues to be popular coupled with an ability to create bespoke plate sizes which is a prerequisite for most high end residential or hospitality projects.

Total solution for wholesalers

For wholesalers servicing interior designers or other professionals visiting trade counters or for showrooms that want to match faceplate finishes with either existing installations or specialist products, availability of products with matching finishes is likely to be difficult or time consuming to source. As Focus SB manufactures and finishes all faceplates and components in-house, it is able to offer customers an unrivalled design and finish solution which solves this problem.

Wholesalers know that when they order electrical accessories products from Focus SB, they have a straightforward flexible solution from just one manufacturer. Typical customers are not impulse buyers, so Focus SB collaborates with wholesalers who want to offer a standard collection with the advantage of niche, bespoke ‘non counter’ products.

To view the full range of finishes, click here

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