New owners aim to take Whanganui electrical company to next level

The new owners of Strong Electrical are Brett Tasker (left) and Grant Neilson.

New owners Grant Neilson and Brett Tasker aim to take longstanding Whanganui company Strong Electrical to the next phase of its growth and development.

After completing the buyout of original owners Trevor and Anne Strong last year, the pair are looking to a bright future backed by the significant history.

The business started trading in 1976 and, in the 41 years that followed, it has carved out a niche in the industrial and commercial electrical market.

Back then, Alan Strong led A Strong & Sons, and in 1982 his son, Trevor, took over the business.

Grant Neilson joined as an apprentice in 1979 and has 38 years' experience. Although now the owner, he has been known to pick up the tools and lend a hand - "You have to keep your hand in and muck in at the coalface when needed," he says.

Brett Tasker started with Strong Electrical in 2001 - also as an apprentice - and is now a qualified electrical engineer, one of two fully qualified engineers on staff.

The business has thrived over the years, with the industrial component growing locally and nationally in recent times. Mr Tasker has been central to Strong Electrical's success in this regard.

With a wife and young family, he enjoys the fact that owning a business in Whanganui enables people to achieve work/life balance, although the Strong team often has to travel to service client requirements.

The new owners have worked with a Whanganui business consultant, Russell Bell, as part of their succession planning and also to be mentored in the transition from employee to owner/manager.

Members of the Master Electricians organisation, they have quality at front of mind and service delivery is a crucial element of their success. Strong Electrical now employs 28 staff and covers all electrical design, installation and maintenance including domestic, commercial and industrial.

Recent projects include wiring the two largest milk powder driers in the world - Darfield in Canterbury and Lichfield in Waikato - and the new Animates and Work and Income buildings in Whanganui. It is a local business which reaches national clients anywhere from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

In addition to the large-scale projects, the business has a heating ventilation and air conditioning team covering everything from heat pump installation and servicing to a total HVAC package.

This part of the business specialises in design and build for heating systems and refrigeration works from "concept to sheet metal".

Some of their recent projects are the St Johns Club upgrade and Whanganui City College heating refurbishment.

There is also a security and fire alarm team who are trained in the most relevant technology and services, ranging from fire alarm installation to testing and building warrant of fitness. A recently acquired monitoring agency is another feather in their cap.