‘POWER PLAYERS’ INITIATIVE OPENS TO ENTRIES

Industry-wide initiative is open until Friday 23 June

Leading younger people from across the engineering services sector have a new opportunity to be recognised and rewarded for their achievements, following the formal launch of the ECA’s ‘Power Players’ initiative.

Power Players opens today (25 April) to entries from anyone aged 39 or below who has achieved innovative or impactful activity in their careers so far. The initiative is open until Friday 23 June. To enter, individuals simply need to submit a short video at www.powerplayers.uk.com.

The industry-wide initiative is being run alongside partners All Things Media and the Electrical Industries Charity. In addition, Power Players is being backed by numerous organisations within the industry, including major training provider JTL, who are the initiative’s latest supporter.

ECA CEO Steve Bratt commented:

“I am delighted to announce that Power Players has formally opened to entries from across the engineering services industry. We look forward to receiving the entry videos from high performing young people who are seeking recognition for their achievements.”

There are a range of top-quality prizes for the two most impressive Power Players, including the opportunity of a lifetime of a business and networking trip to the USA. Other prizes include lunch with business guru Sir John Parker, who is the chair of global mining firm Anglo American.

All other Power Players of merit will receive recognition under the initiative. For example, five shortlisted entries will be showcased in September during the ED&I Expo – a major new industry event being held at the NEC in Birmingham. 

The public will decide the two most impressive entries from the shortlist via a social media poll in the lead up to the exhibition.

About Power Players: Power Players is a new industry-wide initiative from the ECA, alongside partners All Things Media and the Electrical Industries Charity. It is also supported by a broad range of industry bodies and organisations.

The initiative aims to identify some of the leading figures from the younger generation, who have undertaken innovative or impactful work in their careers so far. Power Players opened to entries on 25 April, and will close on Friday 23 June.

Power Players is aimed at the younger generation, and is open to entrants from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who are aged 39 or below (as of 31 December 2016) and work for any of the following types of organisation:

• Training providers, educators and colleges
• Clients and specifiers (e.g. facilities managers, local authorities, housing associations, property developers etc.)
• Consultants and designers
• Engineering firms
• Installers and contractors
• Manufacturers and distributors

Within these organisations, Power Players is looking to recognise achievement in professions (can be onsite or offsite) that include: engineers, architects, surveyors, business development, health, safety and environment managers, installers, salespeople, marketers, public relations, facilities managers, procurers, human resources, lobbyists, trainers, civil servants, product developers etc.

The initiative is completely online and to enter individuals simply need to send in a short video highlighting their innovative or inspirational work. There is no need for video production skills – videos can be created on a smartphone or tablet. The videos can cover a range of areas of work, such as sustainability, safety, training, diversity etc.

A compelling online judging and voting process will then be undertaken, with five entries shortlisted. The shortlisted entries will go to a public vote and will be showcased during the ED&I Expo at the NEC in September this year, which expects to have footfall of approx. 5,000 over two days.

The two winners of Power Players will be flown over to Philadelphia, where the US National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is holding their annual conference in 2018. NECA has kindly agreed to host the two winners during the three-day event. The winners will also receive a number of other prizes, including an iPad and lunch with a business guru.

About the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and its members: The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) is the UK’s largest trade association representing electrical, electrotechnical and other engineering contractors, at regional, national and European level. ECA member-companies are rigorously assessed before membership is approved.

Member firms have a combined turnover in excess of £6 billion annually. Member firms carry out design, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance and monitoring activity across domestic and commercial sectors. This ranges from power and lighting to data communications, to energy efficiency and renewables, as well as the design and installation of cutting-edge building control technologies.

The ECA’s near 3,000 members range from SME electrical firms to nationwide engineering contractors and building services firms that employ thousands of professionals on major UK projects.