For over 30 years, H&F Electrical Contractors Ltd has been a leading electrical and structured cabling contractor with a proven track record for high quality installations across all market sectors. The Limerick-based company’s client list covers both the private and public sectors as managing director Neilus Sheehy explains.
Established in 1989, H&F Electrical Contractors Ltd offers a wealth of experience and expertise in delivering electrical, instrumentation, data network and ancillary electrical systems. It has become one of the foremost electrical, network communications and instrumentation contractors in Ireland, while developing a prestigious client-base which includes the OPW (Office of Public Works) and HSE (Health Service Executive). Operating on a nationwide basis, H&F Electrical has successfully completed electrical contracts across the construction spectrum, from data centres, manufacturing, healthcare and industrial to the pharmaceutical, commercial, Government and technology sectors.
Committed to delivering complex projects on time and within budget, H&F Electrical works in partnership with its clients to achieve mutually positive results. Total customer satisfaction is top of the company’s agenda. H&F Electrical is continually improving its standards of excellence to meet its customers’ needs and has earned a reputation for quality workmanship and service.
The contractor operates to the highest safety standards with ongoing training forming an integral part of its safety policy. As part of its ongoing commitment to Health & Safety, H&F Electrical has achieved the Safe-T-Cert and is in the process of obtaining ISO 9001 accreditation. A member of Safe Electric, AECI and NISO, the company’s experience in HTMI specifications for hospitals has seen it become an expert in this area and complete many projects for the HSE.
Initially set up by Don Hickey and Frank Fogarty (hence the name H&F), the company was subsequently taken over by employees Don Phelan, Tim Hogan and Neilus Sheehy, and has an annual turnover of about €6 million. It operates from the Ballysimon Road in Limerick city and employs 60 people, including a number on a sub-contract basis.
“It was a smooth transition,” Neilus recalls of the takeover.
“We still work for the same clients and have retained most of the same staff, who are highly-skilled electricians and tradespeople. We’ve been around for the past 31 years and have acquired a wealth of experience and knowledge in that time. We enjoy an excellent relationship with our customers and work with them every step of the way on projects to ensure they are 100% happy and that there are no hidden or extra costs involved.
“Our reputation for quality installations and ability to complete projects on time and within the agreed budget is borne out by the high volume of repeat business and referrals we receive from satisfied clients. Our installation, products and back-up service are second to none.”
Neilus joined H&F Electrical as senior quantity surveyor in 2001 and has worked on many prestigious projects during that time, while gaining invaluable experience in different roles.
“When I first came on board, my duties included the day-to-day financial management of each project, and liaising with the design and construction teams to ensure clients’ requirements were achieved within budget,” the affable Newcastle West man explains.
“In 2006, I took on extra responsibilities which included a more direct involvement in the estimating and preparation of tenders. Then, in 2011, I was promoted to the position of director within the company. My additional responsibilities included minor contract management, purchasing and account management.”
The OPW and HSE are H&F Electrical’s two main clients. Recent projects undertaken for the OPW have included the refurbishment of Athlone, Waterford, Killarney and Ballinasloe Garda Stations as well as Thurles lighting upgrades. For the HSE, the contractor has been involved in the installation of two new catheter laboratories and the upgrade of Ward 2C at University Hospital Galway. In addition, H&F Electrical has been busy carrying out electrical works relating to additional COVID-19 facilities such as emergency beds, wards and temporary accommodation.
“We also have a lot of private clients such as Pallas Foods and recently worked on their new warehouse and distribution centre in Cork. We’ve also done office fitouts for them in the past,” Neilus continues.
“We recently did the electrical work on Surmodics Medical’s new cleanroom facility in Ballinasloe and on the upgrade on the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick.”
Among the other projects H&F has completed in the past decade are: upgrade of electrical distributions systems in Merlin Park Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital and Cork University Hospital; Hibernian Insurance, Galway; Somerfield Distribution Centre, St Helen’s, UK; Thomond Village Student Accommodation, Limerick; AIT Engineering Block; Critical Care Unit, MWRH, Limerick; Medical School, UL; various projects for Dell in Limerick, Dublin, Poland, Morocco, France, Scotland and Finland specialising in data centres and production lines. Every client is treated with the same respect regardless of their size.
With competition fiercer than ever in the market, Neilus stresses the importance of maintaining the highest standards at keenest prices.
“We can’t afford to rest on our laurels. There are some very good electrical contractors out there who are tendering for the same jobs. The mid-size electrical contractors’ market is extremely competitive, especially in the Mid-West. You have to be innovative when applying for tenders,” he says.
“The biggest downside to COVID-19 for us is the difficulty in obtaining certain products and materials. It has delayed the supply chain. Also, nobody knows what the cost of materials will be in a post-Brexit world. There are a lot of uncertainties at the moment, but we will continue to do our best for our customers.”
H&F Electrical would like to take this opportunity to thank its clients and suppliers for their continued support, and its staff for their expertise, hard work and dedication.
H&F Electrical Contractors Ltd
Unit 3,
Crossagalla Enterprise Centre,
Ballysimon Road,
Limerick
V94TD81.
Telephone: 061 417494
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.hfelectrical.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, March, Vol 7 No 3
