Northern Ireland man appointed ECA President

David Dennison has been appointed as the new President of the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA).

Taking up his office on 11 May 2002, at a ceremony during the ECA Electrical Industry Conference, the appointment of David Dennison marks the second time a Northern Ireland member has been appointed President of the Association.

A local businessman, David is Managing Director of Belfast-based construction company, DM Engineering (NI) Ltd, and began his career in electrical installation in 1957, when he became an apprentice with linen thread manufacturers WF Hayes in Banbridge, County Down. In 1974, he and a friend established DM Engineering, which has since experienced many years of steady expansion and today boasts a multi-million pound turnover.

One year after its formation, DM Engineering became an ECA member, and since that time, David has been involved with the Association's activities at branch, regional and national levels, having been Chairman of the Belfast branch on two occasions, and representing the ECA Training Sector at the Construction industry Training Board from 1987 to 1997.

The first Chairman of the Electrical Trust at its inception two years ago, David also chaired - from 1996 until 1998 - the North South Training Committee, setting up the framework for mutual skills recognition between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The Electrical Contractors Association represents the interests of over 2,000 member companies involved in electrical installation work, providing a focus for the sector in terms of safety, training, qualification, technological development and industry performance.

(CL)