O’Brien Electrical sparks awards recognition

O’BRIEN Electrical North Geelong has been on a relentless journey of improvement, after a strategic shift three years ago focused its efforts on turning a good business into a great one.

The business’s transformation, director Stuart Collins says, has already had a significant impact, increasing its net profit, expanding its service mix and building stronger systems better able to support sustainable growth.

“The flow-on effect has been greater stability, more opportunities for our staff, and increased value for our customers,” Collins said.

The transition has also drawn the attention of the judging panel of this year’s Geelong Business Excellence Awards (GBEAs), sponsored by LBW Business + Wealth Advisors, landing the electrical and renewable energy business a coveted place among the 2025 finalists.

The honour is especially thrilling for O’Brien Electrical, which has long set its sights on the prestigious awards program, but is taking the plunge for the first time this year.

“This is the first year we’ve felt ready to enter the awards, and it’s rewarding to see our hard work acknowledged,” Collins said.

“For our team, this recognition validates the effort, energy and ideas they’ve contributed, and it’s exciting to be recognised outside the business for those achievements.”

Backed by more than 30 years of experience and access to a professional network of electricians and plumbers through the well-known O’Brien Group, the business specialises in home lighting, industrial installations and energy efficient designs.

Collins attributes the business’s success to three things: its decades of industry knowledge, drive to continually improve and embrace innovation, and clear strategy, which ensures the team delivers excellent service consistently.

“Our commitment to excellence starts with our team, and that translates directly into customer experience,” Collins explained.

“In the past year, 68 per cent of our customers have been repeat clients, many of them returning over a 10-year period. Our staff engagement score sits at 89 per cent, and our net promoter score is 90 per cent — both reflecting the strong culture we’ve built.”

Collins said the awards process had already been “extremely positive” for his team, giving the business an opportunity to benchmark its progress, celebrate how far it has come and highlight areas for further growth.

“It gave us a chance to pause, reflect and celebrate the journey we’ve been on over the past three years. It also highlighted key areas we want to focus on in the year ahead, helping us shape our next stage of growth,” Collins said.

Importantly, he said, being part of the GBEAs has reinforced that business is “about more than number”, it’s about “people, community and impact”.

“We’re proud of the culture we’ve built within our team, the trust we’ve earned with our customers, and the contribution we’re making to the local region through renewable energy and innovative electrical solutions,” Collins said.

“This recognition encourages us to keep striving for excellence and to continue giving back to the community that supports us.”

The winners of this year’s GBEAs will be crowned at a presentation event at Geelong Arts Centre on October 30. For tickets, head to gbea.com.au