Scotland’s largest construction trade body has been shortlisted as a finalist in three categories at the Association Excellence Awards, which salute the vital work that trade associations do for their members.

The first nomination sees SELECT nominated for Best Membership Support Since Covid-19, recognising the body’s ongoing response to the pandemic, which included offering members a discounted subscription and wealth of practical support.

It also delivered a huge range of employment, financial, health and safety and contractual guidance via its in-house teams and through the creation of the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum.

The association’s second awards nod is for Best Awareness Campaign or Advancement of a Cause (launched in 2022), with SELECT recognised for its high-profile Alarm Ambassadors initiative, sponsored by Aico.

Launched in January, the campaign saw SELECT member firms across the country carry out free installations for elderly and disabled people identified by the Care and Repair Scotland charity to help them comply with new government regulations.

The final installation was carried out in Dundee by electrician Ricky Brown of SELECT member firm Complete Electrical Solutions (Scotland) on 29 June – just a week before the association found out it had been nominated for the award.

SELECT’s third Association Excellence nomination is for Best Association Newsletter, Blog, Online or Physical Publication, which sees its newly-relaunched stakeholder magazine, cabletalk, among the finalists.

The body will now go up against fellow trade associations from around the UK at a special ceremony at The Kia Oval in London on Friday 14 October.

Alan Wilson, managing director of SELECT, said: “These nominations are a significant endorsement for the tremendous work carried out by everyone at SELECT over the past couple of years.

“With the help of our staff, members and Central Board, we have been able to tackle a challenging period together and emerge stronger and more determined to help our industry thrive. Such a crisis shows the real value of trade associations to its members – as these nominations demonstrate.”

Iain Mason, SELECT’s director of membership & communications, added: “It is pleasing to have been nominated for the Alarm Ambassadors campaign, which was designed to help those in genuine need and remind the public of the importance of using compliant products when updating to meet the new regulations.

“We were delighted by the number of electrical professionals who were quick to volunteer their skills and time to help the needy and to highlight the importance of safety in the home. This nomination is in recognition of all their efforts, and of the SELECT team who helped organise things behind the scenes.”