Dawson’s Electrical Company

Building a Business From The Ground Up: The Success of Dawson’s Electrical

Starting a business from scratch can be daunting. But Mark Dawson, the founder of Dawsons Electrical, was ready to take on the challenge. Through determination and a real passion for his work in the electrical industry, he made it possible for his business to grow. He started off helping a friend at an electrical company, having come from an engineering background. Now, his business, Dawsons Electrical, is one of the leading electrical contractors in Milton Keynes, building up fantastic relationships with satisfied customers in both the domestic and commercial sectors. 

How did Mark do it?

The Origins of Dawson’s Electrical

The first thing he did was find his passion. He discovered that electrical work was the right career for him by chance. From there, he got himself through college and gained the qualifications to become a professional electrician.

Mark gained a position at CJ Richards Electrical where he stayed for ten years. During that period he carried out work on numerous commercial and domestic electrical installations.  The work involved anything from big commercial jobs installing  warehouse lighting and power and wiring in big 3 phase machinery to wiring  high end domestic house  extensions, loft conversions and garden lighting.  Towards the end of his time at CJ Richards Electrical he was carrying out a lot of solar panel installations which were in high demand at the time.

However when the government changed the feed in tariff for solar panels the industry died overnight.  This then led to a shortage of work and Mark was made redundant.

This was the point where Mark decided to start his own business. He became determined to set up Dawson’s Electrical and provide the personalized service that few other electricians can.

Starting From Scratch

Mark didn’t know where to start. From paperwork to registration with NIC, from finding work to gathering materials, tools and equipment, it was overwhelming. But Mark realised he could achieve his goals step by step, taking one day at a time. He built up his own confidence with all of his successes and within a year, he had grown Dawson’s Electrical into a fully equipped, fully-accredited electrical contracting company serving domestic and commercial clients in Milton Keynes.

A Fantastic Team

Mark and his team have been all over the country for both commercial and domestic jobs, building up their experience, repertoire and skill. Mark says that he is ‘constantly learning’ with every new job and says that this is one of the keys to success. Of course, Mark didn’t achieve all of this alone. He has had a fantastic team of electricians, including two apprentices, Jack and Joe,. who Mark has helped grow into accomplished electrical professionals, helping them build up their confidence and expertise. Helping two young apprentices achieve fully qualified status is not only a great achievement for them but Mark also feels a great sense of achievement and pride knowing that he has helped them embark on a great career and done his little bit to help the next generation of electricians.  Joe has since moved on to other areas within the industry but Jack continues to work with Mark to this day, carrying out complex electrical work independently, thanks to his encouragement and support. There is now a new  addition to the team, Tony who has many years of experience,  and together Mark Jack and Tony all give their full dedication to Dawson’s Electrical in order to fuel the business with success.

The Business Takes Off

Once Dawsons became a well-established electrical company within the industry in Milton Keynes, the challenges didn’t stop there. Even now, with their five-star reputation and constant stream of work across Milton Keynes, Northampton and Bedford, they still struggle with business maintenance. With rising prices, the cost of materials and tools is increasing, presenting new challenges for Dawsons. Nonetheless, their teamwork and resolution have seen them through even the most difficult days. Prioritizing their clients and providing a consistently high quality service to NICEIC-approved standards, the team at Dawsons always know what they need to do to move forward.

Work At The Rugby Union Football Club

One of their most significant jobs was a comprehensive project at the Rugby Union Football Club. Dawsons Electrical worked end-to-end for a week, replacing the floodlights on the pitch. The job presented several challenges for the team and they found themselves learning skills in areas they previously hadn’t dealt with before. They worked with light designers and other contractors to bring a spectacular floodlight solution to the Rugby Union and the club still enjoys the work of Dawsons today.

An Inspiring Story

“Don’t burn yourself out,” Mark says when giving advice to other business starters. “Don’t be afraid to delegate some of the work and take a day off to work on your paperwork and concentrate on other parts of the business.” or to simply relax and spend time with family, it can be all too easy to work seven days a week and let life pass you by when you run a business.

“Be reliable, transparent and honest with customers and price jobs reasonably. Remember the goal for any business is to make a profit but within reason and provide a good quality service.”

Mark’s story is inspirational to all who are looking to build their business from the ground up and don’t know where to start.