At the height of accreditation and qualification, WT Jenkins takes a firm stance on best practice. Striving to provide an electrical contracting service that excels from start to finish and is guaranteed to last, the company takes customer satisfaction to the nth degree. Established in 1971, WT Jenkins has quickly become one of the leading electrical contractors in the North West following prolonged expansion and diversification since its début. The company now specialises in the supply, installation and maintenance of floodlighting, road lighting, public realm lighting and traffic signage, and prides itself on a consumer-facing outlook. A great part of achieving such a positive working relationship with clients is the care WT Jenkins takes to not only source the best people, but retain the best people. Subscribing to the company’s ethos of “the customers is always right” is the first requisite but all operatives are also JIB-Graded, and assessed under the HEA (formerly ASLEC) competent persons scheme, as well enjoying opportunities for regular training and development well beyond that which is expected. In fact, WT Jenkins boasts a workforce of qualified electricians from top to bottom, a unique quality that Steve Murray, Joint Managing Director, is keen to stress provides a leading-edge: “Between myself, Tony King (joint MD) our two contracts managers, general foreman and site supervisors, we have over 200 years of combined experience in the electrical industry. That provides us the ground on which to educate our staff and inspire a shared vision of good quality, on time workmanship, carried out in the safest possible manner.” And in the electrical contracting industry, safety is of course paramount. Over the last six years, WT Jenkins has worked closely with two of biggest innovators in health and safety, Laing O’Rourke and MPT during the regeneration of Manchester’s rail network. The company has undertaken all electrical works on Manchester Metrolink’s newly-formed platforms, as well as completing road lighting works in the surrounding towns of Oldham and Rochdale as part of the region’s major regeneration. Working for such a high-profile, public sector client bears great expectations though WT Jenkins continues to prove itself more than capable of the challenge. As Steve explains, “During the process we’ve been set challenging targets to complete all works to a high standard and also deliver a target zero safe project. Not only have we achieved this but we’ve been awarded for our efforts at the MPT supply chain award evenings.” It was during those ceremonies that WT Jenkins picked up a phenomenal 11 awards in testament to not only its quality or exceptional health and safety record, but also for innovation. Since its inception, the company has been keen to lead by example and one of the first to invest in accreditation and trade affiliation. Having been a member of the Electrical Contractors’ Association for over 40 years, WT Jenkins has remained at the forefront of the latest in policy and practice, utilising the association as a technical educational resource, as well as marketing tool with which to gain new leads. As Northwest Regional Chairman and National Council member of ECA, Steve is unequivocal about the benefits of membership; the company has had assistance with everything from debt recovery and contract disputes, as well enjoying ECA’s specialist BIM seminars. And with a relocation to larger premises and a rapidly-filling order book, WT Jenkins’ pioneering identity in the sector is only to get more pronounced. The overarching ambition however, will remain much the same and, irrespective of expansion or diversification, the company will continue to place customers at the heart of its business.