Member Article

Electrical business buzzing after national award win

A North East electrical business that has blossomed during the recession has been rewarded with a national honour.

McNally and Thompson carried off the SME of the year title at the London finals of the Constructing Excellence Awards 2013.

The accolade comes after the Sunderland based operation last year increased turnover by 25% to £3.2 million and more than doubled its workforce to 39 during one of the most challenging periods the construction industry has had to face.

Judges said of the company: “They have shown they are clear about what they aim to achieve and are strategic and savvy on how to progress. They impress employees as well as their customers by regularly exceeding key performance targets. As they strive for continuous improvement, they are compelling and exemplary to the industry.”

McNally and Thompson won the regional award in the spring – opening the door to compete on the national stage and take on seven other regional winners from around England and Wales.

Said Managing Director, Fred Hood, who bought the business back in 1997 when it had six staff and a £200,000 turnover: “We were really excited about the event until someone glibly suggested that a small firm from far away Sunderland was never going to win an award in London.

“That prompted us to do some research on the competition and then we got a bit deflated because they all looked fantastic. To say we are buzzing now would be an understatement. It all brings a fantastic year to a brilliant end.

“I think what swayed it for us was our commitment to team working and customer focus. We made a business decision not to under price jobs but instead to deliver exceptional results. That has certainly paid dividends for our order book and helped us make a mark nationally. We’re delighted.”

With over £4 million worth of work to look forward to the electrical and mechanical services specialist can also reflect on some milestone projects. These include a £370,000 14-week fast track fit out of the health centre in Gateshead’s new Trinity Square and the most technically challenging project it has tackled in its 40 year history - the £200,000 specialist lighting systems installed in the new Culture Centre at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

In an extremely busy year, with continued growth, McNally and Thompson also found time to move to new offices at North Hylton Enterprise House in Sunderland.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .