All the President's Men
At our Annual General Meeting in June, Eric Rae was formally announced as the President of SELECT. Eric, who is married to wife Frances and has two sons, 21 and 25, has already served as Vice President and brings a wealth of experience to the post.
In the past he has been a Regional Chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses for North East Scotland and has also kept up as a local Branch Chairman, so he knows only too well the issues that face small and medium sized firms.
Eric, whose business E Rae & Son is based in Turiff, Aberdeenshire, says: “I’m very much looking forward to representing Members’ interests at every level, whether it be to act as a voice at Central Board and with SELECT’s Heads of Function, or at national government level.
“Things are always changing so it’s important that SELECT gets involved
with every new piece of legislation and regulation, as well as wage negotiations that can all have a big impact on our Members.”
Eric says he also has a few ideas of his own to help make Members aware of certain schemes that can benefit them.
For example, he says that many people aren’t aware of certain funding mechanisms that provide for employers when their staff, who are reservists in the military, are called away on active service.
He said: “I was guest of honour a couple of years at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and I have taken an interest in the issue. I have heard that 10 per cent of our military in the future looks likely to be reservists so I think all employers should be aware that there are grants out there to help them employ a temporary member of staff if one of their employees is called away for six months. They shouldn’t see employing a reservist as being a negative thing, as there are many positives.”
Eric says he is looking forward to getting more information out to Members so that they are aware of schemes to support any employees they may take on who are reservists.
Eric will be supported in post by Kevin Griffin, from East Kilbride, who takes up the role of Vice President.
Both were formally announced to fellow Members in time-honoured tradition at the Walled Garden on June 3.
Eric Rae looks forward to his next two years as SELECT President, with Kevin Griffin as Vice President. Eric says he is looking forward to representing the electrical contracting industry in Scotland at government level and pledges to do his best to deliver the best outcomes for ordinary Members