The deadline for entries has been set for June 28 and the winners will be revealed at an awards evening on October 11 at the Radisson Blu in Glasgow.

Reflecting the duty of care which the safety-critical industry has to both clients and employees, a new award category of ‘Best Health and Safety Initiative’ has been introduced this year to be sponsored by industry charity Electrical Safety First.

The future of the sector will also be recognised with the SJIB Apprentice and the Wholesaler Apprentice of the Year awards, while a special Lifetime Achievement award will be made on the night.

The accolades awarded by SELECT, the campaigning body for the electrotechnical trade in Scotland, will have a special relevance in 2019, a year in which sector’s campaign for recognition of qualified electricians moved to Parliamentary consideration.

The awards will also be a first for new SELECT managing director Alan Wilson, who recently took over the reins of the organisation.

He said: “SELECT has been campaigning vigorously for the recognition of electricians as a profession and that professionalism will once again be on show, from young people to industry veterans, at the annual awards ceremony.

“The importance of the electrotechnical industry in everyday life increases every year in proportion to the complexity of our interconnected world and it is appropriate that their skill and dedication should be rewarded.”

An array of sponsors will include the Scottish Joint Industry Board, Electrical Safety First, Scolmore Group, ECIC, Markel, CEF, EDA Apprenticeships+, Rexel, Schneider Electric, Megger, Edmundson Electrical, Connect and MacRoberts LLP.

A shortlist for each category will be published in September and each shortlisted member company will be visited by the judging team to assess their entry in more detail.