Father and son electrical firm in running for award

AN electrical contractor firm in Ballyfermot featuring a father and son is up for a national award.

Gorman Electrical Services was established a couple of years ago by Patrick Gorman (24), who soon took on his father Patrick Gorman Snr (60), a retired former Irish army man.

The pair of them both did their apprenticeships at the same time in the same colleges and in the same classes.

Patrick Snr was 56 when he started his apprenticeship.

Today, GES employs 11 people and the firm is in contention for ‘Small Electrical Contractor of the Year’ at Ireland’s Electrical Awards 2024 with the winner to be announced on June 14.

“We signed our papers on the same day, went to the same colleges in Galway and Sligo,” said Patrick Jnr.

“He was one of the oldest and we were the first father and son in the college, it was interesting to say the least.”

After finishing their apprenticeships, both went off and started working independently for electrical contractors, but Patrick Jnr wanted to start his own business.

“We both got first marks in college and got good jobs afterwards, but it wasn’t for me.

“I went out on my own and Dad followed,” said Patrick Jnr.

Jnr is located mostly in the office in a management role, taking calls, going out to price jobs, while Snr operates out on the field to help keep the work crews ticking over.

Located in a Park West office, the business operates far and wide and they “have enough work to take on more lads”, according to Patrick Jnr.

From their own research, they believe they are one of the first contractors to set up an online estimator for house rewiring.

Visitors to their site can click on a ‘rewire calculator’ and type in what they need – switches, sockets etc – an estimator provides a ball park figure and if someone wants to follow that up, a call can redirect them to the office.

“We are constantly looking at new ways of doing things, introducing change, and the management software was a way to bring in the online estimator.

“You just enter in what you need, it gives you an estimate and then I can pop down and have a look,” said Patrick Jnr.

In the first two weeks of the launch, Patrick says it proved a hit with 3k uses.

GES are also proud of their 120 5-star reviews, and their support for local charities.

Every year they donate a percentage of their output – this year its Pieta House and last year it was the Irish Cancer Society.