Meet the long-serving SELECT staff who are the sum of our parts
Hard work and dedication has been key to the success and longevity of SELECT, so we went behind the scenes for a chat with some of our most long-serving staff, whose time at the association just happens to add up to 125 years….
When did you start at SELECT? What was your first job role?
GILIAN HOGARTH: I’m the relative newbie here as I only started in 2014, as an administrator with the SJIB.
ANITA HORECKYJ: I also started with the SJIB in early 2011.
STUART McKELVIE: I was the year before, becoming a Technical Adviser in April 2010.
JENNY CRYANS: I started on 1 April 2006 – April Fool’s Day! I originally came in as a temporary Technical
Services Administrator, covering maternity leave.
SUE ROSS: I’d arrived in the same department a year earlier, October 2005, also working as a Technical Services Administrator.
CAROLYNN SHAW: I feel old now! I joined as Membership Coordinator in October 1999.
MICHELLE COURTNEY: I can beat that – I started as a Benefits Administrator in April 1999. I was only 19.
SMcK: OK Michelle, you win!
What were your first impressions of the association?
CS: I was interviewed in the Members’ lounge in Bush House which reminded me of an old people’s home without the old people! We still had the equivalent of a typing pool and other staff were scattered about in random offices on staircases and along corridors. I needed a trail of breadcrumbs to find my way back to my office!
MC: I started at Bush House too and it really was another world – each department had their own room and there was no communal area. We didn’t even have PCs – everything was written out by hand or on a typewriter.
SR: By the time I arrived the association had moved to The Walled Garden, which I thought was very modern. I did think things were a bit formal, as most people were suited and booted and all the men wore ties.
GH: That’s strange, because I’d come from a corporate banking background so I found everything quite laid back by comparison!
JC: I was struck by how professional it all was – there was a lot to take in and it took time to understand how everything tied together.
SMcK: I just remember feeling like an apprentice. My new colleagues clearly had a vast amount of knowledge and it was a totally new world.
Has your job changed during your time at SELECT?
JC: I’ve been very fortunate to climb the ladder, from temping to full-time, then Training Coordinator and now Training Manager.
CS: My job has changed too. I started taking responsibility for the website and digital communications when they became a thing and then developed the on-site IT systems. Eventually I passed on the membership baton and now concentrate on streamlining and improving efficiency. It’s meant my role has always been interesting.
AH: I switched roles too, becoming a Membership Coordinator in 2014.
MC: I actually left in 2004 to take another role in the police force…
SMcK: Boo! Traitor!
MC: …but after a few months I was asked to come back as Benefits Manager and that was the end of my police career.
SMcK: I’ve stayed in the Technical team but had several roles, moving to Training Development Adviser in 2022 to reflect the rise in popularity of our training.
GH: I’m the only one whose role has never changed!
And what’s changed at the association itself during your time here?
CS: Oh my goodness, everything! Membership numbers have more than doubled and the services we offer have done the same, much of it driven by technology. So much is now available digitally and instantly.
GH: We’ve definitely moved into the 21st century and our social media presence has helped make SELECT more visible.
CS: Saying that, I like to think that when Members do need to speak to a person they still get the friendly, family feel from our team.
MC: Absolutely! It’s amazing to see how many Members we have now and the amount of training and advice we provide, along with the brilliant support from staff. We really do strive to give Members an excellent service.
JC: As well as delivering a lot more training courses, we also have a wider range of topics so there’s something for every Member. COVID-19 also changed the way we delivered training, with a mix of in-person and online options.
SMcK: We’ve definitely become less paper orientated…
SR: …which is good news for the trees! We use a lot less paper and technology is always advancing, with new things to learn and platforms like Teams making a real difference.
SMcK: The virtual classrooms also mean that Members don’t need to travel for training.
AH: I kind of miss seeing crowds of electricians in The Walled Garden for training. It was good to see the place full!
How do you think the industry has changed too?
CS: I’ve seen huge changes, always technology driven. When I joined SELECT we didn’t have a website and Members with an email address were few and far between. In 2005, when the Building Standards Scheme was set up, an email address and online access became a requirement – and challenge – for many Members. What a difference 20 years makes!
SMcK: Technology has definitely moved forward at a lightning pace and electricians’ underpinning knowledge has had to advance with things like EV, PV, EESS, ASHP…
JC: …and all the other acronyms we need to remember!
SMcK: Exactly! Ensuring our Members are trained to the highest standard, work safely and look after themselves and others around them is more important than ever.
JC: Renewable technology has definitely become a big part of everyday life for Members, so it’s important we offer the relevant training.
MC: It’s also important for electricians themselves to stay up to date with that training.
SR: Absolutely! Electricians definitely need to be responsible, especially when their training expires.
GH: It’s also good that the industry has tightened up on qualifications but we need to go further – SELECT’s campaign for regulation is key to protecting the public.
So what’s the best part of your role? What do you enjoy most?
AH: That’s easy – speaking to Members on the phone or in person at Toolbox Talks. You can’t beat it.
GH: I agree. I love getting an interesting question – and I don’t give up until I solve it!
SR: I agree with Anita and Gilian. Taking a training enquiry, talking to Members and making a booking is extremely satisfying.
MC: It’s definitely the people part too. I’m very proud of the relationships I’ve built up with our Members over the years. It’s also satisfying to know that they have cover in place when they need it most.
SMcK: I also enjoy interacting with Members, mainly through training. Learning together is key and it’s a great feeling when a Member leaves a course with more knowledge that they arrived – even if it’s only one thing.
CS: I’m not public-facing any more, so for me satisfaction is improving efficiency for Members or staff, mainly through our online services. We’re always learning!
How you think SELECT helps Members most?
JC: Communication is key! We provide Members with up-to-date information by phone, email, website, social media, e-newsletter and cabletalk. Visits from our Technical Advisers and Member Reps are also essential and the Technical Helpline is something I know Members really value.
AH: What Jenny said! I also think that getting a friendly and familiar voice when you need it is what we do best. You don’t get a computer when you call SELECT!
GH: It’s also good for Members to know that they’ll undergo rigorous technical assessments to ensure their work is up to standard. It’s a mark of quality and a great selling point for a business to potential clients.
MC: For me, SELECT is always on top of any changes to training and regulations, so we’re able to keep Members compliant. COVID-19 was a great example of that.
SMcK: Absolutely. We offer such a wide scope of support and information, all dedicated to helping our Members work more effectively and flourish in their career.
And what sort of feedback do you get from Members?
AH: I would say it’s overwhelmingly positive; it’s obvious to me that Members are extremely proud of the
association.
JC: I always encourage Members to supply feedback and we regularly review what we receive. Any feedback, negative or positive, helps us improve what we do.
MC: I frequently get messages of thanks when we help with a certain situation, for example if someone has been off ill and receives our additional sick pay.
SMcK: It’s always pleasing to get feedback like that. For me, on courses where the material can seem quite dry and daunting, it’s great to know you’ve put someone’s mind at ease and got your message across.
SR: One Member recently commented that he “loved my can-do attitude”. That really made my day!
What you think the future holds for the electrical industry?
CS: There’s no doubt our industry is fast-changing and fascinating. The push for renewables will increase demand for electrical technology and energy storage, which is good news for our Members.
MC: Electric vehicles and smart homes will be more commonplace too, so electricians can’t afford to miss out.
JC: Artificial intelligence (AI) is another big growth area, although I’m not sure if our infrastructure is ready just yet.
SR: With the demise of fossil fuels, hopefully there will be a cleaner environment to work in too.
GH: I think it’s also good that more people are encouraging youngsters to take up an electrical
apprenticeship, because we’re going to need more qualified experts.
JC: Whatever the future brings, we all need to be ahead of the curve and have the right training available.
SMcK: Absolutely. With electricity at the forefront of everything, electricians will need to keep their skill levels at the highest possible standards to install and maintain all the tech that’s coming down the track.
And finally, what do you think the future holds for SELECT?
SR: We’ve already started more modern working practices, such as working from home and remote events, which haven’t impacted our service.
JC: As we always say, the future is electric, so demand for electricians will only increase which will hopefully ensure that membership of the association remains healthy. We also have to ensure all those electricians are properly trained too.
CS: I agree with Jenny – one of our most important roles is to continue expanding our training provision. It’s crucial for Members to be able to develop their skills and to adapt to the changing environment.
SMcK: The future of SELECT looks promising but one of my biggest wishes is to have regulation and protection of title. For me, that’s essential.
AH: For me, as long as we continue to engage with Members, listen to their wants and deliver what they need, we’ll be here for another 125 years.
Our other long servers: Scott White, Resources Assistant (36 years); Lynne MacDonald, Benefits Administrator (22 years); Laurie Burns, Training Administrator (21 years); Lorraine Miller, Finance Coordinator (19 years); Mark McLaughlin, Technical Adviser (18 years).
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