Category: News

“You Never Know When You’re Going to Need It”: Neil Baldwin on 10 Years Supporting the EIC

Neil Baldwin is on the Electrical Industries Charity’s Yorkshire Committee and has been making a huge difference behind the scenes for 10 years.

Neil first discovered the charity at a fundraising lunch,

“10 years ago, I got invited as a guest with some customers and started to hear about and understand what the EIC was all about, Neil recalls.

Since then, he has attended EIC events up and down the country every year.

“Once I got to understand that a bit more, I got a lot more involved. The events were always a good opportunity to raise money for charity, plus it’s great for networking and having a good day out with some of your customers,” Neil says.

Neil was inspired to continue supporting the charity because, as he says, “you never know when you’re going to need it.”

“It was more about hoping you never have to use it, but knowing it’s there,” says Neil. “There aren’t many industries you work in where you’ve got a safety net of this charity that can take care of you and your family when some of the worst things can happen to you. Why wouldn’t I want to do that?”

Supporting People Across the Industry

What resonates most with Neil is the EIC’s mission to support people across the industry.

“I think you have things that can happen in your life, whether it’s your child getting sick, or your wife, or getting made redundant,” Neil says. “So many people live month to month that suddenly you’re into a world of pain, especially if there’s a lot of other people being made redundant, because then the job market’s tough. So this charity and what it offers is a really big thing.”

“It’s a worthwhile thing to put your time into,” says Neil. “If I fall down the stairs and break my leg today, suddenly I’m going to need the charity.”

The Cause Behind the Challenges

Neil’s proudest achievement to date was taking part in the Challenge for a Cause trek to Machu Picchu in 2023.

“That was a bucket list thing to do whilst raising a lot of money for the charity,” he reminisces, “it was phenomenal. I’m eager to do another one when the right event comes up.”

In the meantime, Neil is looking forward to taking part in the EIC Day celebrations in September.

Neil’s “why” is rooted in the stories he hears from friends and colleagues who have received support from the charity.

“When you hear those stories, whether it’s sickness or mental health, you can suddenly understand what we do this all for,” says Neil.

“People say it’s made a massive impact on their life, and that makes me really happy. because that’s exactly why you’re doing it – so people can get help when they desperately need it.”

The Invisible Struggle

Looking to the future, Neil wants to see more people getting involved with the charity at both a regional and national level.

He also hopes to raise greater awareness among businesses in the industry that the charity may already be supporting more of their employees than they realise.

“People are very good at putting on a facade of normality, even when their lives are falling to pieces,” he says.

“In our industry, we’ve got divorce twice the national average, suicide twice the national average, and the prevalence of gambling addiction and substance addiction, so it’s going to be a much bigger number than you think it is.”

Neil believes that by speaking to businesses and making them aware of the support available to employees, these issues can be addressed earlier.

Neil’s Words of Advice

To anyone considering joining a regional committee, Neil says that giving up even a small amount of time can make a powerful difference.

“I’ll just say if you’re going to do it, do it, you know, commit. It’s not a lot of time. You know, we have committee meetings every couple of months. It doesn’t take long,” he says.

“Put yourself in the position of somebody who needs it, but there wasn’t the funding available there to support them. Imagine if that were you,” says Neil. “And by just giving up a little bit of your time and your efforts, you can make a difference in people’s lives in a positive way.”

“Committees work best when everyone on the team is fully invested in being there, showing up and making a difference. Nobody wants a team member who is only there on paper, so I would encourage everyone to get involved, and stay involved, attending the Committee meetings alongside the events, it is truly a rewarding and enriching experience.”

After a decade of dedication, Neil Baldwin continues to champion the Electrical Industries Charity with the same passion that first inspired him at a fundraising lunch 10 years ago. Through fundraising events, committee work and raising awareness of the support available, he has helped strengthen a safety net that many people in the industry may one day rely on.

The EIC’s Regional Committees organise and host over 30 events each year, generating a significant proportion of our annual income. Not only do they raise much-needed funds, but they also help spread awareness of the Electrical Industries Charity and the support we provide to employees, their families, and businesses.

Becoming an EIC Regional Committee member is a great way to get involved and make a difference. If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved—whether as a volunteer, supporter, or committee member—click here to find out more about the ways you can make a difference.

Volunteers’ Week: Celebrating Our Incredible Volunteers

As Volunteers’ Week returns from 1 – 7 June, the Electrical Industries Charity is shining a spotlight on the hundreds of volunteers whose dedication helps raise vital funds, support colleagues in crisis, and strengthen communities across the UK electrical and energy industries.

Who are the volunteers behind the Electrical Industries Charity?

Regional Committees:

The Electrical Industries Charity’s Regional Committees organise and host over 30 events throughout the year. Last year, they generated 28% of the Charity’s income. Not only do they help generate much-needed funds, but they also raise awareness of the Electrical Industries Charity and our ability to support employees, their families, and businesses across the industry.

There are currently 14 regional committees that plan and host incredible events across the country each year. They cover the regions of East Midlands, Eastern, London, North West, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South Coast and Isle of Wight, South West, Southern, North East, Wales, West Midlands, Western, and Yorkshire.

If you’d like to support one of our regional committees, consider attending one of their fundraising events. These events aren’t just gatherings; they’re opportunities to unite, network and shed light on the challenges and opportunities within the electrical industry.

Board of Trustees:

The Board of Trustees governs the Electrical Industries Charity. The Board meets a minimum of four times a year to deliver the organisation’s aims and objectives, while setting strategic direction and policy to uphold its mission, vision, and values.

Emerging Professionals Board:

The Emerging Professionals (EP) Board is made up of talented individuals from across the industry with less than 10 years’ experience.

The purpose of the EP Board is to support key projects that help the Charity achieve its objectives. Members gain valuable insight into charity management and strategic leadership while taking on meaningful leadership responsibilities.

The Board meets four times a year and attends Trustee meetings annually to present key initiatives that the Charity will undertake throughout the year.

Finance Working Group:

This subgroup oversees the systems, controls, and processes that may impact the Charity’s ability to meet its objectives.

The Finance Working Group reports to the Council on matters relating to financial responsibilities, including financial risk management. Its remit includes budgeting and financial performance, internal financial controls, financial reporting and external audit, reserves and investments, and IT strategy.

Welfare Audit Group:

This subgroup provides independent assessment of the quality and effectiveness of the Electrical Industries Charity’s welfare care programmes.

Patron:

We are honoured to have Stuart Pearce as our Charity’s Patron.

Before becoming a household name in football, Stuart began his working life as an apprentice electrician with Brent Council, later running his own business. Even as his football career took off at Coventry City F.C. and Nottingham Forest F.C., he continued working as an electrician, famously advertising his business in matchday programmes.

His experience in the trade gives him a deep understanding of the industry and the people we support.

“I have a real appreciation for the hard work and dedication of those in the electrical and energy industries. I know firsthand the challenges that can come with the job, which is why I’m so passionate about supporting the incredible work that EIC does. The charity provides vital assistance to those who need it most and I’m excited to play a part in helping to raise awareness and ensure that no one in our industry faces any hardship alone,” says Stuart.

Ambassadors:

Ambassadors are people who commit their time to raising awareness of the EIC. They support with various things, including inspiring people to fundraise, signing people up for the powerLottery, sharing our messages on social media, and encouraging their companies to support us.

Our Ambassadors meet with the EIC team every quarter to catch up and share their ideas. Helping their industry’s charity and in turn, their colleagues and peers is what motivates our ambassadors and gives them a sense of personal achievement.

Industry Impact

At a time when many workers across the electrical and energy sectors continue to face financial, mental health and workplace challenges, volunteers play a critical role in ensuring support reaches those who need it most.

“Our volunteers are the backbone of everything we do, “says Jess Vailima, Managing Director of the Electrical Industries Charity, “From organising fundraising events to shaping our governance and future strategy, their expertise and generosity make an extraordinary difference to our Charity and across our industry.”

If you would like to get involved, whether through volunteering, fundraising, or attending an event, you can learn more here.

Snowdon Night Climb Raises Over £35,000 for Electrical Industries Charity

On Friday, 8 May a team of 46 climbers conquered Mount Snowdon in the pitch black, raising over £35,000 for the Electrical Industries Charity.

The team set off at 1:30am in darkness and rain, head torches at the ready and prepared to take on the tallest Mountain in Wales. What followed was a trek filled with breathtaking views of Snowdonia from above the clouds.

We caught up with some of the climbers at the top of the mountain about how their journey went, and what inspired them to take part.

Jon Chamberlain from Marshall Tufflex and Adrian Frearson from Dereck Frearson Agencies were in high spirits as they reached the peak of the mountain.

“We decided we wanted to give back to the charity after the charity does everything for our industry and it’s our opportunity to do something to give back,” says Jon, “I’ve done it now, and it’s great!”

“My advice is get fit!” laughs Adrian.

“Get fit, but do it. Pick a challenge and do it. It’s worthwhile,” Jon adds.

“It’s definitely worth it,” Adrian agrees, “great friends, great colleagues, and a great charity.”

Paul Fawcett and Stephen Jerram from Schneider Electric say climbing Snowdon by Night felt “absolutely brilliant”.

“I primarily did this to challenge myself and also support the EIC,” says Stephen, “we’ve been big supporters of the EIC for a long time, but this is the first time we’ve done one of the challenges.”

Although this was their first challenge, the pair say it certainly won’t be their last.

“It’s all for a good cause,” Paul says.

His words to anyone thinking of giving a challenge a try are: “If you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything.”

“It’s a great opportunity to challenge yourself as well and go and do something you’ve never done before,” Stephen adds.

Clark and Declan Gourlay from Union Technical Services, Glasgow say it feels good to do something that gives back to their peers in the industry.

“I’m feeling quite exhilarated after the climb,” says Clark, “the views are lovely, weather is really good, and there are some really good people around, so it’s a really nice atmosphere.”

Declan says his highlight was “overcoming the strain of getting up the hill and getting to see the views at the top and also meeting some great people along the way.”

The two were inspired by a desire to raise money for those less fortunate than themselves. Having done Ben Nevis last year, Snowdon felt like a natural next step for the duo.

“It’s just to help other people,” says Clark, “people who are less fortunate than us and may need some help. Raising money to help a good cause and help fellow people in the electrical industry, it makes you feel good.”

Clark says that climbing the mountain is “not as daunting as you might think.”

“A wee bit of training, especially just in your hill climbs in the eight weeks beforehand just builds up your strength,” Clark adds.

Declan advises anyone thinking of completing a similar challenge to “Just get out there” don’t second guess. Do a wee bit of training, and there’s always somebody on the path that will help you,” he says.

Clark and Declan would like to thank “everyone who organised the event, and all the fellow electrical industry people here today raising money for a good cause.”

The Electrical Industries Charity and our climbers would like to thank the flag sponsors H&S Electrical Wholesalers, Schneider Electric, WAGO, YESSS Electrical, and our breakfast sponsor, C.K. Tools.

“It’s About Putting Something Back”: Steve Vaslet’s Story with The South West Committee

Steve Vaslet has tirelessly championed the Electrical Industries Charity for 12 years as Chair of the South West Regional Committee. Having seen the Charity and the industry change so much, Steve spoke to us about the highlights, his hopes for the future, and his advice for others looking to get involved.

Steve was introduced to the Electrical Industries Charity when he was invited to a regional ball. Looking back, he says his first reaction was one of surprise, coupled with a sense of missed opportunity, as he wished he had discovered the charity and its work much sooner.

That discovery lit a spark in Steve, leading to a mission to ensure no one else in the industry went as long as he did without knowing about the support available to them.

Steve’s involvement with the South West Committee grew in 2014, when the President of the then Gloucestershire Committee retired. Steve saw it as an opportunity to become more involved with the Charity, as well as to make new connections in the South West.

“I was new to the South West,” Steve explains. “I was asked if I wanted to be President, and with a little bit of research, it seemed like something I could help with.”

What stood out most to Steve about the Charity was the range of support available.

“What impresses me is, on one hand, the range of support that’s available, and the relative ease with which people can start to engage with it,” Steve says.

Steve also values the tailored support that the EIC offers to its beneficiaries, as well as the fact that the Charity is able to return £0.91 for every £1 donated, thanks to key partnerships.

Seeing the Impact

The most rewarding part of Steve’s work with the EIC is seeing first-hand the impact it has on people in the industry, as well as watching the Committee’s fundraising events grow each year.

“It’s very rewarding seeing the good that the charity does and seeing people benefit from it,” Steve says. “I’ve known one person personally who had a terminal illness and was supported by the charity, and I’ve heard how much that was appreciated by the family.”

Another hugely rewarding aspect of his work on the Committee has been witnessing the success of its regional events.

“To see 50 to 100 golfers enjoying themselves in the sunshine, or 200 people in a room at a ball all having a great time, and knowing that we, as a committee, made that happen, there’s a real buzz that comes with that,” Steve says proudly.

Uniting an Industry

Steve says the biggest challenge the South West Committee is currently tackling is engaging everyone across the industry.

“Previously, there was a lot of engagement with the EEIBA,” Steve explains. “The committee was very generation-oriented, so our challenge is to be more broad-based—less focused on generation and more on wholesale, contracting and manufacturing. Not only does this give us contacts across different sectors, but it also helps us understand the challenges each one faces.”

Looking to the future, Steve says it is vital that the Charity continues to evolve alongside new industry challenges.

“I think it’s important that the Charity remains flexible. I hope it continues to analyse cases and understand where the risks lie in our industry. It can be quite hard to predict what problems people will face in the future, so maintaining that agility is key,” he says.

Events to Look Forward To

Steve looks forward to a number of events hosted by the South West Committee each year—some well-established and others new and exciting.

“We’ve been running a golf event since the beginning of time,” Steve laughs.

“It’s held in Cheltenham on 18 June. The golf club makes us feel really welcome—they roll out the red carpet for us—and we have some great sponsors,” he continues.

“We have a great day. We’ve been developing the package so that you don’t have to be a keen or experienced golfer to take part. We offer lessons with a pro and other activities to give the event wider appeal,” he says.

Steve is also looking forward to the South West Autumn Dinner on 16 October. He hopes the event will attract more people from across the industry and expand the Charity’s presence further across the South West.

“This year, we’ll be hosting a dinner in Exeter,” Steve says.

“With the support of some new committee members from the wholesale and contracting side of the industry, we’re hopeful the dinner will be a success. It’s a new challenge for us, but there’s a lot of enthusiasm among the committee to make it a great evening.”

Proud Moments and Opportunities

Looking back, Steve says he is particularly proud of the first ball he hosted as President of the Committee.

“A proud moment for me was my first ball—standing up in a room of 200 people and not being able to achieve silence or stop the conversations at the tables,” Steve laughs. “That became a bit of a running theme each year—excitable, unfazed crowds.

He also looks back fondly on attending the powerBall with his wife, Jane.

“powerBall was a fun and eye-opening evening,” Steve recalls. “It really showed the scale of the industry, the people within it, and the power we have to look after our own.”

Steve attributes the success of the events to the hard work of the South West Committee.

“We have a fantastic committee here in the South West who work hard to make these events bigger and better every year,” he says.

Steve adds that there are always opportunities to get involved in one way or another. For example, this year he and his wife will be taking part in the Snowdon by Night Challenge.

“We can’t wait to take part in the nighttime walk up Snowdon in May,” he says. “It’s another unique way to get involved with the Charity and raise money.”

Getting Involved

For anyone considering getting involved with the EIC, Steve says it’s an opportunity to give something back.

“For me, it’s about putting something back,” says Steve.

“I’ve worked in the industry for 41 years—it’s looked after me. I’ve had a good and enjoyable career, and this is my chance to give something back and support those who are less fortunate.”

“It’s a challenging world out there. There’s a cost of living crisis, rising expenses, and a lot of time spent working away from home. There are many opportunities for unforeseen issues. As an industry, we need to look after our people. While there are many charities out there, it’s important to take an industry-focused approach and create a safety net for our own people. Being part of the EIC gives you the chance to contribute to that,” he says.

“The charity itself is made up of genuinely kind, fun-loving people, which makes being involved a really enjoyable experience,” Steve adds.

Our Regional Committees organise and host over 30 events each year, generating a significant proportion of our annual income. Not only do they raise much-needed funds, but they also help spread awareness of the Electrical Industries Charity and the support we provide to employees, their families, and businesses.

Becoming an EIC Regional Committee member is a great way to get involved and make a difference. If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved—whether as a volunteer, supporter, or committee member—click here to find out more about the ways you can make a difference.