In 2018, Eamonn McGauran & Son Ltd will celebrate 50 years in business. For any company to reach this landmark is a significant achievement and one that the owners should take great pride in.
This Sligo based family run business has been supplying its services to a large customer base since 1968 and their reputation for providing a quality service now precedes them wherever they go.
Founded by husband and wife Eamonn and Mary McGauran, the business has grown from a small start up to become one of the largest electrical contracting firms in the north west.
Their client list includes some of the biggest building contractors in the country as well as various state bodies and the private sector. A true testament to the company’s success is the amount of repeat custom they have as they have worked hand in hand with some of their clients for many decades now.
Through the years, Eamonn McGauran & Son Ltd have stuck to their core strength of providing a quality service to the industrial and commercial sector. Projects vary from domestic dwellings to commercial offices, pharmaceutical factories and hospitals.
The company specialises in a number of areas with government based projects being to the fore in recent times and to tell us more about the work being done is Eamonn’s son Eamonn Jnr who took over the running of the business in 2010 with his wife Maria.
“We are quite busy at the moment with a number of projects ongoing. Currently we are working on an 80 bed nursing home in Dublin, a 10 classroom school in Longford and a water treatment plant in Sligo,” said Eamonn.
“As you can see, we have work all over the country, but the fact is that we have to travel for it as Sligo is still some way behind Dublin in terms of economic activity. We have become specialists in schools’ work as well as Garda Stations as we have been successful in securing a number of tenders to upgrade these services around the country.
“Our company has completed many electrical projects for IT Sligo over the years too. We are fortunate to work for reputable building firms and government bodies, many of whom we have long term business relationships with.”
Eamonn McGauran & Son Ltd currently employees 30 people and Eamonn revealed many of them have been with the company for over 20 years. Ten of our electricians have obtained QC (Qualified Certifier) numbers which is essential for the modern construction environment and a part of our quality assurance system.
“There are approx. ten electricians that have been with us for over 20 years and it is very valuable to have that continuity in the company. We have electricians that served their apprenticeship with us and went on to secure work with other businesses but have since returned to us. They’ve all played a huge part in the success of the business as their experience has been invaluable on many projects.”
He added that in order to keep the dynamic of the company in check they take on apprentices on an annual basis, but Eamonn added that it was not just a case of employing anyone.
“It is not easy to get good apprentices, but fortunately I’ve good contacts in the schools and I also do some lecturing in IT Sligo which allows me to get to know potential apprentices. Young people were not showing an interest in apprenticeships during the recession, but you can notice a change in the last few years and there is more of an interest now.
“The aim is to find apprentices that you know will be good in the job and you focus on people that are suited to it.”
Indeed one area that Eamonn and his team place great emphasis on is health and safety with no chance being left to take when it comes to everybody’s well being.
“We have achieved the Safe-T-Cert A standard and continue to maintain and improve on our Quality and Safety standards. Our Safety Policy is designed to ensure that all tasks are within the competence and capacity of the employee. The Systems of Work have been designed with that purpose in mind. It is an essential element of our Safety policy to continuously review our standards and improve these beyond current best practices.”
The company managing director pointed out that they are always looking at ways of expanding the business as they continuously tender for work in an industry where if you stand still you will be left behind. Software such as Autodesk REVIT enable us to give our customers leading edge service in design construction and maintenance of complex and highly serviced buildings.
“We are continuously seeking to build new relationships with clients and making every effort to maintain our current relationships with customers. You have to be looking 18 to 24 months ahead in this business. Our goals are always to provide quality work in a safe manner and meet the budget put in front of us.
“By continuing to innovate and provide our team with technical and safety training, the latest in new technology and BIM software applications our company will continue to thrive for generations to come”.
Contact Details:
Eamonn McGauran & Son Ltd
80 John Street,
Sligo,
Co. Sligo
Tel: +353 (0)71 916 0281
Fax: +353 (0)71 917 1540
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, September 2017, Vol 3 No 8
