David Smith, a past president of the organisation and a former representative of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Branch, was accorded the exclusive honour at the association’s 111th Annual General Meeting.

Handing over the award, president Alistair Grant paid tribute to the extraordinary dedication shown by David, who has held a wide range of roles at SELECT over the past 26 years and won its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

After collecting his honorary membership, David told delegates at the Doubletree Edinburgh North Queensferry on June 1: “It’s a great honour to accept this award and quite a surprise too because it feels like just yesterday that I joined SELECT.

“I have seen massive change in the association during my time here and I like the fact that everyone is made more than welcome, whether a big or small company. That’s why I tell people, ‘Join SELECT – you’ll never regret it’.”

David, a senior partner in David W H Smith Heating and Electrical Services, added: “I am very moved by the tribute of Honorary Membership and I would like to dedicate this award to all the colleagues, office bearers and officials with whom I have shared a wonderful and fulfilling career.

“The electrical sector in Scotland has never been in better health, with recognition of the job’s social and environmental importance and record numbers of apprentices, and great credit must be afforded to the association for fostering this climate.”

Alan Wilson, managing director of SELECT, said: “I believe it gives everyone in the organisation and our associates in the wider sector great pleasure to officially recognise the skill, experience and dedication that David has brought to the many posts he has held.

“David has had a full and fulfilling professional life, including work in national enterprises such as British Steel, and has created a successful business. He has always taken a keen interest in everything to do with the electrotechnical sector in Scotland.

“He has been a great friend and supporter of this organisation, but he has also played major roles in a number of Scottish and UK enterprises and associations over the years and has always been a keen supporter of apprenticeships.”

In his time with SELECT, David chaired the Electrotechnical Committee, was a member of the board of the industry sector skills council, SummitSkills, and served on SELECT’s Training and Skills Committee. He also held the Presidency between 2005 and 2007.

Alistair, who was nominated as President for another year at the AGM along with Vice-President Mike Stark, said: “Once David had fulfilled his role as Immediate Past President, he again became a representative of the branch, a position he held until March this year – a total service of 26 years. Some of our staff are not even that old!

“He will be a huge loss to the association, but I know we will be able to call on his experience at any time.”

Before the AGM itself, the SELECT Central Board met for its second quarterly meeting of the year, during which representatives from all eight branches discussed progress and the priorities of the association for 2023 and beyond.

Alistair also provided his own snapshot of current activity in SELECT and the wider industry, delivering updates on regulation of the industry, the ongoing work of the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) and the association’s role in the workforce of the future.

The event also featured a tribute and moment’s silence in honour of former association President Pat Feeney, who passed away in February, aged 91.

SELECT is currently in the final stages of a long-running, but now very high-profile, campaign for the recognition of electrician’s professionalism with the submission to the Scottish Parliament of a Members’ Bill calling for Protection of Title.