Meet Peter Andrews, Founder of AEC.

Over 50 Years in the Electrical Industry.

My journey in the electrical industry began in 1975, when I started my training with Rhodesian Railways in what is now Zimbabwe. I qualified as an electrician in 1980, the beginning of a career that would take me across three countries and through many different parts of the electrical trade.

After moving to South Africa, I worked in industrial electrical maintenance and construction before taking on a supervisory position with a generator manufacturing company in Johannesburg. From there, my interests led me into industrial automation, an area I found particularly rewarding. During this period, I also established my own electrical contracting business.

In 1995, I moved to the United States, where I spent the next 21 years working in the electrical field and taking on project management in the construction industry. My work included electrical installations in multi-storey commercial buildings and schools, supervising teams of electricians and managing construction projects. Working in America gave me valuable experience of different construction methods, electrical standards, project coordination, and the management of people and resources.

In 2016, I returned to South Africa and established AEC, All Electrical Contractors.

The business began with electrical installations, maintenance, solar energy solutions and electrical work for new construction projects. Over the years, we have also become involved in the electrical systems and automation of high-end residential properties, where attention to detail and reliability are particularly important.

As technology has advanced, we have continued to expand our services. Today, AEC also specialises in Ajax security alarm systems, CCTV surveillance and intercom installations, so we can offer our clients a broader range of electrical, energy and security solutions.

Passing On the Experience.

At this stage of my life, I am no longer as physically involved in the day-to-day electrical work as I once was. However, my interest in the industry has never diminished.

These days, one of the things that gives me the greatest satisfaction is the opportunity to guide, train and encourage young men and women who want to make a career in the electrical trade.

Over the years, I have worked alongside many skilled electricians and tradespeople, and I have learned something from almost all of them. I believe experience is worth sharing, particularly with young people who are just starting out.

I want our apprentices and younger electricians to understand that being a good tradesperson is about more than connecting wires or installing equipment. It is about taking pride in your work, understanding what you are doing, thinking problems through, and being prepared to take responsibility for the finished product.

South Africa needs skilled tradespeople, and I believe that giving young people the chance to learn a trade and build confidence in their abilities is one small but meaningful way of contributing to the country's future.

I have been fortunate to enjoy a long and varied career. The technology has changed enormously since I first picked up a set of tools in 1975, but the basic principles of good workmanship have stayed much the same.

Today, my role at AEC is to share the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years, and to help develop the next generation of electricians who will carry those standards forward.

At the end of the day, I believe a job worth doing is worth doing properly. That is the philosophy I have tried to follow throughout my career, and it remains the foundation of everything we do at AEC.

Peter Andrews, Founder, All Electrical Contractors