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EnergyAce MD Attends ECA’s “Electrifying Our Future – Untapped Potential” Reception in Liverpool

On Monday 28 September, Gary Vizard, Managing Director of EnergyAce and Northwest Regional Chair of the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), attended Electrifying Our Future – Untapped Potential, an evening reception held at The Bluecoat in Liverpool during the Labour Party Conference.

Hosted by the ECA in partnership with JTL Training and the Electrotechnical Joint Industry Board (JIB), it was the first dedicated electrical sector fringe event of its kind at a Labour Party Conference.

The evening brought together political and industry representatives to celebrate the contribution of the electrotechnical workforce and discuss how Government and industry can work together to meet future skills demand. It also formed part of the ECA’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

Guests heard speeches from Glenn Grant, President of the ECA; Chris Claydon, Chief Executive of JTL Training; and Andy Reakes, Acting CEO of the JIB. They also heard from Veronica Jennings, Labour Manager at Dalkia, who shared her journey from apprentice to her current role and spoke about the barriers that still need to be removed to build a more diverse workforce.

A central theme of the evening was turning interest in electrical careers into qualified electricians.

The ECA’s 2026 Electrical Skills Index found that fewer than one in five learners on government-funded, classroom-based electrical courses progressed into an apprenticeship or skilled employment in 2025/26. Industry leaders called on Government to work with employers, training providers and sector bodies to remove barriers to apprenticeship growth, particularly for the SMEs that train much of the sector’s workforce.

Glenn Grant, ECA President, said: “Electrification is a huge opportunity for the UK, but we will not deliver clean power, warmer homes, EV infrastructure or a modernised grid without the skilled electrical workforce to make it happen.”

Throughout the evening, the Electrifying Our Future media commissioned by the ECA was played which featured EnergyAce while guests met apprentices and representatives from organisations including BEAMA, Electrical Safety First, the North West Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance, the Electrical Distributors’ Association and Certsure, hearing first-hand about the workforce and skills challenges facing the industry and the work underway to support the next generation.

As Northwest Regional Chair, Gary plays an active role in representing the region within the ECA. With the event taking place on home ground in Liverpool, it was a valuable opportunity to engage with decision-makers on the vital role the electrotechnical sector will play in the UK’s energy future.

EnergyAce is proud to support the ECA in its 125th year and its work championing the industry and the next generation of electrical professionals.

EnergyAce was delighted to attend the Comsys Colab Conference 2026, held in Malmö, Sweden, from 22nd to 24th September.

EnergyAce was well represented with Managing Director Gary Vizard, Technical Services Manager Chris Scholfield and Sales Manager James Cunliffe joining partners from across Comsys’ global network to mark the company’s 25th anniversary.

Held at the Radisson Blu Hotel Malmö under the theme “Blue Skies Ahead”, the conference looked back on 25 years of innovation and partnership while focusing on the opportunities shaping the future of the power quality industry.

Gary Vizard said: “It was a privilege to celebrate this milestone with Comsys and their partners from around the world”.

“Events like this help us stay at the forefront of power quality and power factor correction technology, ensuring we continue to offer our customers the most effective and reliable solutions available”.

“Getting an early, hands-on look at the latest ADF technology means we’re well placed to bring these solutions to our UK customers, particularly in fast-growing sectors such as data centres”.

“Congratulations to everyone at Comsys on 25 years of perfecting power.”

Delegates at the Comsys Colab Conference 2026

The programme combined product, technology and market sessions. Highlights included an overview of the Comsys ADF S-Series platform with the introduction of the ADF S3, followed by a hands-on walkthrough of the new unit, and an introduction to the ADF S5. Other sessions explored the outlook for AI data centres, the importance of perfect power for data centre operations, the use of ADF technology as a STATCOM to address harmonic and VAR requirements, and the growing role of power quality data.

Away from the conference room, the team enjoyed a welcome evening at Malmö Brewery and a memorable 25th anniversary dinner at the historic Sofiero Palace, before closing the event with individual meetings with the Comsys team.

EnergyAce has expanded its portfolio with the introduction of Uninterruptible Power Supply, or UPS, solutions, giving customers another way to protect critical systems and improve site resilience. Working with manufacturing partner Ablerex, EnergyAce now offers UPS systems from 1kVA to 2000kVA, supported by its UK-based design, installation, maintenance, and technical support capability.  

A UPS helps keep essential equipment running when the mains supply is interrupted. It also helps provide clean, stable power during normal operation, which is particularly important for sensitive systems and critical environments where even a short interruption can lead to disruption, damage, or data loss. 

The addition is a natural fit within the wider EnergyAce offer. The company now offers UPS alongside complementary electrical and power-related services, including Power Factor Correction, Voltage Optimisation, Active Harmonic Filters, and planned maintenance. 

EnergyAce’s UPS capability includes both off-the-shelf and bespoke solutions, allowing systems to be matched to the site, the load profile, and the level of resilience required. Options include single-phase and three-phase systems, support for complex or critical environments, and integration with existing electrical infrastructure and backup generation.  

Through its partnership with Ablerex, EnergyAce is able to deliver properly engineered UPS solutions backed by long-term serviceability and technical support. That means customers can work with one trusted partner from specification through to installation and ongoing support.  

Gary Vizard, Managing Director at EnergyAce, said:

“Adding UPS to the EnergyAce portfolio is a natural next step for us. Our customers already come to us for support with critical electrical systems, so expanding into UPS allows us to offer even more complete protection for sites where continuity and power quality really matter. “

Businesses looking to understand whether UPS could be relevant for their site, assets, or operations can find out more on the EnergyAce website or speak to the team directly.

The ECA Business day chaired by EnergyAce Managing Director, Gary Vizard, is quickly approaching and is now open to Non-Members!

Below is a taste of what to expect at The People’s History Museum on the 5th March.

• Industry-leading speakers including transformation expert John Hogan, Olympic Icon Derek Redmond and AI Innovator Andy Paul.
• Practical sessions on leadership, change, technology and the future of the electrical industry.
• Opportunities to network, share ideas and explore the latest industry‑driving innovations.
• A full day of learning, inspiration and connection

This action-packed event is free to attend but spaces are extremely limited so act fast!

To register, get in touch with EnergyAce today by calling 01695 559785 or dropping an email over the sales@energyace.co.uk before spaces run out!

ECA Business Day – Powering Business Growth – Unlocking Opportunity

Date: 5th March 2026

Time: 9:00 – 16:30

Locations: Peoples History Museum, Leftbank, Manchester. M3 3ER

Learn more about the event by clicking here.