City MP checks out what's happening at Worcester electricity company

The firm in Buckholt Drive, Warndon, which specialises in connecting businesses and generation projects to the National Grid, took the most promising new business award at this year's Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

Mr Walker met the management team and heard how they had grown their family business to take on more people and offer the first traineeship, turning over more than £1.2m in the second year of trading and working with some of the biggest names in the electricity business such as Western Power Distribution. He heard how the company had taken on its first trainee, launched a long term incentive plan for staff and is working on the frameworks for future apprentices.

Mr Walker said: "It is always exciting to see a local business that is growing, creating jobs and taking people on. When I heard about Rock Power Connections, I was immediately intrigued to find out what they do and my visit was fascinating. Electricity is more essential than ever in the modern world and it powers everything from heavy industry to high speed trains to the internet in our homes and businesses. The rise of renewable technologies and micro generation provides both challenges and opportunities for the electricity sector. The process of getting people connected has rarely been more important and these people have real expertise in doing it safely and economically.”

“I was interested to hear that they not only compete with the big utility companies in providing new connections for businesses, but actually do work on behalf of those utility and transmission companies themselves. It was great to hear how they put investing in their people at the forefront of the business and exciting to hear of yet another local business that is considering how best to take on apprentices. I look forward to seeing Rock Power Connections growing bigger in the years to come.”