Industry-leading Tipperary-headquartered contractor Brian Healy Electrical Ltd. won two awards at the 2024 Electrical Ireland Awards – Large Contractor of the Year and rather fittingly Medium Commercial Project of the Year for the outstanding workmanship delivered at TUS School of Engineering in Limerick, which will bring through the mid west’s next generation of electrical apprentices.
Marking 15 years in business, Brian Healy Electrical was successful on the double at the Electrical Ireland Awards in 2024. Jonathan Cronin, who was Contracts Manager on the complete electrical fit out of a new building which will be used by electrical apprentices at TUS School of Engineering, Limerick, was thrilled that BHE’s electrical contracting excellence was recognised:
“We were nominated by one of our suppliers, who know that our projects are of a very high standard, and we were very happy to get that nod. When you decide to go in for these things, you never really know whether you are going to be shortlisted or not, so we were delighted to be in the conversation and to have our name in there alongside so many other big companies.”
With 120 directly employed, Brian Healy Electrical operate nationwide and work across all market sectors delivering electrical and ancillary systems, from educational facilities to data centres and high specification offices, to the fuels sector and everything in between. On every installation, BHE excel at interpreting client’s project requirements upfront and putting the required resources, expertise and commitment behind achieving desired project outcomes.
At TUS School of Engineering, BHE’s staff fitted out the building to include precision engineering and electrical engineering workshops and laboratories alongside an integrated heavy goods vehicle garage facility. Lecture theatres, tutorial rooms, information technology labs, catering facilities, a student services centre and other ancillary facilities were also included.
The building is just under 6000m2 and is built to house 900 students and electrical apprentices. The apprentice workshops will allow 40 new electrical apprentices to pass through every six weeks, significantly alleviating the backlog in the apprenticeship system.
BHE carried out MV Traffo and Ring Main install, over 25 main and sub boards, Containment, Power, General Services, Lighting, Lightning Protection, Security Services and Protective Services including a large external works package.
“It’s somewhat ironic that the project we were nominated for is one that is going to bring through the next generation of electrical apprentices and heavy vehicle mechanics,” Jonathan continues. “We actually had a number of lads who are in their own apprenticeships, working on that. It was interesting to get an insight into how apprentice electricians are getting trained up.”
BHE go above and beyond in terms of consultation with clients to make sure they always deliver the optimal solution to exact client requirements, and this was very much the case at TUS School of Engineering. “We liaised closely with the college. Myself and the foreman on the job Jason Fitzgerald visited the college to find out exactly what they needed. The design we got was good but it’s always nice to talk to the client and understand them perfectly before you go into a job. It was worth the extra effort because they were delighted with the end result.”
The electrical installation was valued at €3.5m, while BHE also handled the mechanical install, with the full M&E package coming in at €6m. “It was great to do both and to get it successfully finished in such a short turnaround,” says Jonathan. “With mechanical, we initially started to do a small bit just to help us win the bigger electrical work. By providing a one-stop shop solution and doing both, your service is more appealing to clients.
“As the company started to grow and develop, we started to take on bigger mechanical projects. It makes sense for us to do both and it also makes sense for the contractor as they are only going to be dealing with one subcontractor for both and there is no friction on site. It’s much more efficient and economical as there is harmony and you can cut programme and overheads big time when you have one management team. However, even though we do a good bit of mechanical, too, our main bread and butter is still electrical.”
Previously an old shopping centre that lay vacant for many years, another legacy of the collapse of the Celtic Tiger, the building that became the new Technical University of the Shannon School of Engineering had been unused for many years and repurposing of an old building presented many challenges which were seamlessly overcome. It also joins onto a live Tesco store and the BHE team had to make sure not to impact on it.
“At the peak of the project, which was coming up to Christmas, we had up to 60 lads on site there,” Jonathan recalls. “At that stage there was a big push to get it finished. It was originally meant to be finished by December but the client made some late changes to the job which led to an extra two months. It was still finished on time because they needed it ready for a spring intake of apprentices.
“We were acutely aware that there was a lot hanging in the balance for the electrical apprentices in the region and it’s full circle really for us to be carrying out the installation on a building that will train in electrical apprentices.”
A couple of other projects recently completed by Brian Healy Electrical are the full €12m electrical install for a new BioPharma plant for MeiraGTx in Shannon, Clare, including cleanrooms, QC labs, offices, engineering spaces and process gasses and the full €2m electrical installation on a 3,500 sq m extension to Ennistymon Secondary School including new PE halls, labs, ASD unit and classrooms over three floors.
BHE are also working at the Cherrywood urban centre development in Dublin and secured the Design & Build contract for the M&E package for the redevelopment of Connacht Rugby Stadium.
Meticulous planning and preparation afford BHE an in‐depth understanding of the project scope and client goals. As a company, they like to get involved, rather than just be an ‘installer’. Outstanding technical expertise is another strong point, including staying up‐to‐date with the latest electrical technologies, safety standards and industry‐specific best practices.
Brian Healy Electrical fully utilises BIM to create detailed 3D models of electrical systems within the architectural and structural context. This allows them to pre‐emptively identify conflicts with other building trades, saving time and rework costs, as well as visualising the most efficient layout for conduit runs, cable trays and equipment placement. Meanwhile, increased precision and productivity are guaranteed by prefabricating electrical assemblies such as containment, etc.
Apprentices have always been extremely important to BHE, who bring through a lot of their own talent: “We have a team of 120, including ten management personnel and our site staff. This includes around 35 apprentices. It’s not always easy to hold onto them because there’s a lot of pharma work going in Shannon region, but we’re doing alright,” states Jonathan.
“We’ve come a long way since Brian started out in April, 2009 to get to where we are today – a business operating nationwide with 120 men and a turnover of €20m.”
The key to the continued success and growth of the company? “If I was to answer that in one sentence, I’d say: we create solutions, not problems,” Jonathan concludes. “Every job will bring challenges and we pride ourselves on always finding the best solution and presenting that to the contractor or designer. That’s why we don’t have to chase work; instead people tend to come to us looking for our services.
“Brian’s good name is tied up in the business and that’s why we always leave a good quality installation behind us.”
Brian Healy Electrical Ltd.,
Church Road,
Newport,
County Tipperary.
Tel: 061 624 458
Email: [email protected]
Web: bhe.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, October 2024, Vol 10 No 10
