“ECA Industry Awards recognise key achievements of the highest talent in the electrotechnical and engineering services, providing a great opportunity to showcase some exceptional work.” That was the Electrical Contractors’ Association’s message to entrants for its 2018 awards. Winner of the £5m-£20 million turnover category was W Portsmouth & Co Ltd, the London and Bedford-based company that is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
The Awards, held this year on Friday 8th June at the London Hilton Bankside Hotel, recognise ECA member companies who have demonstrated the highest standards in their respective categories over the previous 12 months.
W Portsmouth’s Managing Director Dave Norsworthy said that after 60 years, it was about time to show that taking a long-term perspective on business paid dividends. “We were asked what was our ‘star quality’ – what it was that set us apart from the competition”, he said. “Our answer was ‘being authentic to our vision’. That is what has sustained us: from our first registration as a company in 1958, to where we are today. Our vision is quite simple: always to maintain good relationships with our customers and suppliers – and deliver what we say we will deliver, when we say and to the highest quality.”
Just being in business for years was not in itself a guarantee of success, though, he added. “We constantly explore new markets and evolve our methods of working; seeking sustained year-on-year growth, but with security and stability. We choose our clients with care; and we care for our workforce too, to ensure they have continuity and security of employment.”
This approach has brought continued contract success, said Dave. Client contracts cited in evidence ranged from MBDA, a world-leader in missile systems and a customer for over 50 years; to University College London – a customer for over 30 years; and the NHS, the biggest project of which was Chase Farm Hospital, designed to be “the newest, most digitally-advanced hospital in the NHS”.
Commercial Director Adam Harlow hailed this project as an example of how “Innovation has been key to our success”, referring to:
- W Portsmouth & Co.’s intimate involvement in designing the largest Barn Theatre in the UK
- its installation of the first Laminar Flow operating light of its kind in the UK
- the first full-installation in any UK hospital of the award-winning ASCOM MYCO Nurse-Call System: providing mobile handsets to all staff for full patient monitoring.
ECA Group London Regional Manager Malcolm Conby praised W Portsmouth’s achievement, saying: “They have an impressive range of loyal customers, an enviable health & safety record and an outstanding record of longevity; but are right up-to-the-minute in their working methods and techniques – and they place collaborative working at the heart of their approach to business. Their success in this year’s award is a very well-deserved tribute.”
The attached picture shows the delighted team receiving their award.
