The campaigning trade body scooped the award for Best Membership Support Since Covid-19 at the Association Excellence Awards, which recognise the vital work carried out by organisations across the UK.

Judges praised the association for its hard work during lockdown and beyond, saying: “SELECT went the extra mile to provide the personal touch, practical support via one-to-one contact, financial assistance and mental health support to Members.”

After collecting the trophy, SELECT managing director Alan Wilson said: “This win is a brilliant recognition of all the hard work carried out by everyone at SELECT both during the initial lockdown and in the months and years since.

“This was a much-coveted award with some extremely strong competition and we were up against a number of very large trade bodies from across the UK, so it was a great honour and a fantastic feeling to win.”

SELECT scooped the award at a special ceremony at The Kia Oval in London on Friday 14 October, where Mr Wilson was joined by SELECT’s director of employment and skills Fiona Harper, director of membership and communications Iain Mason, and specifier and client relations manager Yvonne Wilson.

Ms Harper, who is also secretary of the SJIB, added: “We are all absolutely thrilled to receive this award, which is a fitting tribute to the efforts of everyone at SELECT. It also testament to the contribution of our Central Board, whose personal contact with Members was rightfully praised by the judges in their comments

“Together, we tackled one of the most challenging periods in our history and emerged stronger and more determined to help our industry thrive.”

SELECT’s response to the pandemic included offering members a discounted subscription and a wealth of practical support to help electrical contractors weather the ongoing uncertainty.

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.

Members of SELECT’s presidential team also added their congratulations to the association, with president Alistair Grant saying: “This is a fitting tribute to the excellent work carried out bv every single member of staff at SELECT, whose dedication and professionalism was invaluable during a lengthy period of upheaval.”

Vice-President Mike Stark said: “Congratulations to everybody concerned. SELECT showed the true value of belonging to a trade association, with a wealth of advice and support that never wavered.”

Immediate past president Donald W Orr said: “This is absolutely brilliant and a great accolade. Well done to everyone at SELECT, who should feel very proud.”

Depute vice-president Darren Crockett added: “This is an excellent achievement and recognises the hard work and effort the SELECT staff put in to keep the organisation running smoothly day in, day out in these different times.”

As well as its Covid-19 award, the association was also nominated for Best Awareness Campaign or Advancement of a Cause (launched in 2022) for its high-profile Alarm Ambassadors initiative, sponsored by Aico.

It was also in the running for Best Association Newsletter, Blog, Online or Physical Publication, for its newly-relaunched stakeholder magazine, cabletalk.