Name and role: Thomas Hall, founder and managing director
Company: TH Electrical (NW) Ltd
Sector: Electrical contractor
Describe what your business does:
TH Electrical is an NICEIC approved electrical contractor. We work with domestic, commercial and industrial clients across Huddersfield and the surrounding areas.
How many staff do you employ?
There is currently myself, one full-time electrician (Joe) and a full-time apprentice (Dominic). We also work with a number of local sub-contractors.
What does your job entail?
Our day-to-day is largely getting jobs done and completing them to the highest standard possible. We are lucky to work with some really interesting businesses – Rosenbauer for example. We recently worked with the manufacturer of fire-service vehicles and firefighting equipment to transform its Huddersfield workshop with full LED lighting. This is a much more energy-efficient method than traditional lighting, meaning the company is reducing its environmental impact, as well as making significant savings in energy and maintenance costs. While delivering jobs like this is very much still my day-to-day, my role has shifted in the past 12 months as I have welcomed a new electrician to the team. I spend a lot of time sourcing and organising a healthy pipeline of new work, as well as working with our retained contracts.
What attracted you to start/operate your business in Huddersfield?
I am originally from Manchester but I grew up in Huddersfield and it is where I went to school and did my apprenticeship, so I always knew I wanted to work in the area. It’s a great place for business and has a lot of character, without the hustle and bustle of a big city. There is always something going on!
Name some of your biggest business achievements:
Being nominated for sole trader of the year at the 2017 British Small Business Awards awards was a real personal highlight for me and something I had worked hard for, as was moving from a sole trader to a limited company in 2018. Also hiring a full-time member of staff earlier this year and having the opportunity to give an aspiring apprentice the on the job training that I got when I started my career is great.
What advice would you give to someone looking to set up or relocate their business in Huddersfield?
I’d say go for it. There’s a lot of opportunities here and if you’re willing to put in the work then it will pay off. For tradesmen like myself, it is an ideal location with so many old buildings being renovated into commercial or residential spaces and it’s interesting to be a part of that.
What are your hopes for Huddersfield 10 years from now (2030)?
One bugbear of mine is the infrastructure. We have good train links between Leeds and Manchester, however, that is impractical for a tradesman with tools to carry around, so I would like to see more road improvements to ease the congestion at peak times around the town.
On a personal level, what do you love most about the town?
There’s a real sense of community in Huddersfield – it has a lot to offer young professionals, families and business people alike. As I mentioned earlier, there is a lot of renovations happening to transform the older buildings around the town too, but it is great to see their character is maintained.
Where is your favourite place to eat / drink in Huddersfield?
As a tradesman, it’s good to be able to get food on the go. My favourite lunch spot is Subway at Aspley or Brighouse – a quick, convenient and healthy lunch.
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