The best South Australian (SA) electrical and communications contractors and apprentices were recognised at the annual electrical industry Excellence and Apprentice Awards hosted by peak Australian industry body the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA).

In the Excellence Awards, NECA SA/NT awarded eight major awards across seven categories and in the Apprentice Awards there were eight award recipients across three categories. Finalists were presented in front of more than 350 industry representatives including contractors, suppliers, educators and government representatives at the pinnacle showcase of the electrical and communications industry at the Adelaide Convention Centre, South Australia. MC Jessica Adamson, from Channel Seven, effortlessly engaged the audience and Ventriloquist, Darren Carr, had the crowd in stitches.

Executive Director of the NECA South Australia/Northern Territory Chapter, Mr Larry Moore, said the winning companies and apprentices were chosen because of their commitment to excellence, significant technological achievements and completing high quality projects within challenging conditions.

“The electrical and communications contracting firms that have won an award are simply outstanding for what they have achieved during each project,” Mr Moore said.

“The judging panel were extremely impressed by the high quality of projects this year and as always, NECA members have played a critical role in some of the largest and most diverse construction jobs in the state that set a high industry benchmark,” said Mr Moore.

“Our Apprentices were equally extraordinary and the judges had a difficult time deciding on the winners as all apprentices were knowledgeable and passionate about their trade.”

The winning companies and projects are as below:

 Given the high quality of the projects this year, the following Commendations were awarded:

Finally, our Perpetual Award of the evening, presented to the company with the most outstanding project, went to Nilsen (SA) for the New Royal Adelaide Hospital (nRAH). This complexity and sheer size of this project made it a challenge to manage for Nilsen (SA); however they delivered a high quality project that has now set an industry benchmark.

The eight Apprentice Awards recipients also demonstrated their strong commitment and determination towards their studies and their on-the-job competency. The judges advised that during the course of the interviews it was obvious that all those on the short list were worthy of being there and they felt that all the candidates interviewed are a credit to themselves and their employers.

-ENDS-

Media enquiries and interviews

Barry Jackson – National Marketing and Communications

E barry.jackson@neca.asn.au

D 02 9962 6904

M 0457 767 328

Notes for editors

1. NECA is the peak industry body representing the interests of electrical and communications contractors Australia-wide.
2. NECA is run by electrical contractors, for electrical contractors.
3. We have 5,000 contracting companies as members – and they in turn employ over 100,000 people Australia-wide.
4. NECA employs almost 350 people across its seven chapters (Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia).
5. The chapters provide NECA members with a range of services including: Industrial Relations, Health & Safety, Legal, Technical, Training, business-support services, product discounts and advocacy representation in Canberra with Government, Industry bodies and Training bodies.
6. NECA wholly-owns its Legal firm, Group Training and the NECA Colleges (in WA) and EcoSmart Electricians – and has joint ventures with a superannuation company (NSW) and one of the national cabling registrars (ACRS).
7. NECA also employ around 2,000 apprentice electricians and provides training to a further 2,000.
8. For further information go to www.neca.asn.au.