Over the last half century, AC Electrics has grown from humble beginnings in Cleland, Lanarkshire, to become a pioneer of green technology that’s also been hand-picked to work for the government in sub-zero temperatures in challenging foreign climes.

And founder Benny Smith said a key part of the firm’s progress has been the support it has received from SELECT, which it joined way back on February 12, 1974 when it was still the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland.

Speaking in the latest issue of the association’s cabletalk magazine, Benny revealed that he joined the association when he started out on his own after leaving a safe job, at the same time as buying his first house and helping wife Rosemary raise two small children.

He said: “I felt I wasn’t getting anywhere so I spoke to a house builder who convinced me that I should start up on my own. To give me a helping hand, he offered me a contract to carry out the electrical works on a new housing development he had underway.”

This led to more and more contracts, particularly with local authorities and public bodies in Central Scotland, which continue to this day.

Benny Smith added: “For example, in 1979 we were called in to wire a 30 amp socket in the telephone room of NHS Lanarkshire’s Hartwood Hospital and we are still working for the trust 45 years later.”

Benny soon became a regular at his local Lanarkshire branch of SELECT, where he enjoyed meeting up with fellow electricians and keeping abreast of developments in the industry.

He continued: “Being a Member of SELECT helped keep us on top of new and ever-expanding developments in the industry as it’s very hands-on.

“It also helped us to win the bigger and more lucrative contracts as local authorities demanded evidence that you were a bona fide contractor and SELECT membership gave them the reassurance that we were a professional outfit with high standards.

“Rosemary and I also found the SELECT helplines invaluable as you could just phone up to get questions answered right there and then.”

After three decades in the hot seat, growing changes in technology influenced Benny’s decision to hand over the reins to sons Paul and Kevin in 2004. He said: “We could never really transition from faxes to emails, and that’s what our customers wanted, so we thought it was time for the next generation to take over.”

Under the brothers’ stewardship, AC Electrics was one of the first companies in Scotland to become involved with electric vehicle charging through its relationship with BMW-Schneider Electric in 2013.

The company was also called upon by the UK Government to undertake a special foreign assignment to upgrade the visa section in the British Embassy in Moscow in 2009.

After installing retractable car bollards at Holyrood, Edinburgh, Paul and his crew were recommended for the unusual project, which saw the installation of weather shelters, thermal heaters, body scanning and X-ray equipment to the entrance compound.

Paul Smith added: “It was tough work because it was the dead of winter and the temperatures would be around minus 15-20oC. Working with galvanise conduit in those conditions is NOT recommended.

“However, I really enjoyed my months in Moscow as it is such a beautiful city. We stayed in the Hotel Ukraine and my room looked out across the Moskva River to the White House government building opposite, and I could see all of central Moscow, including Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral. An awesome sight.”

Alan Wilson, managing director of SELECT, said: “We are very happy as an organisation to have supported such an important local firm over a remarkable 50 years of growth which we are pleased to see is continuing

“Today, AC Electrics employs around 14 people and continues to specialise in industrial and commercial electrical installations, lighting design, and providing testing and maintenance throughout Scotland for its longstanding clients.

“Small firms like this are the backbone of enterprise in Scotland and we are sure that Paul and Kevin will continue to take the company from strength to strength.”

• Read the full story in the current edition of cabletalk.