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Glenco recently appeared on the Today Show on Channel 9 to complete a live renovation blitz in only 3.5 hours.
“Why would you try and do that?!” I hear you ask. We took on the mammoth project to help out a family who had been doing it pretty tough. Azura and Torrin lost their father in tragic circumstances. Then faced with the decision about where they would live after losing their main caregiver, the children’s aunt and uncle Amanda and Morgan decided to take the pair in as their own. The couple knew it was going to be necessary to extend their house to make room for the children. However they unfortunately had to but a stop to the renos due to time and financial constraints.
That’s where we came in. We stepped up to help the family by making all the final touches on the electrical, air conditioning and security that would make the house the home it needed to be. And we pulled it off! Along with a number of other trades working on the carpentry, painting, landscaping and decorating, all the tradies came together for the big reveal just before 9am. The family’s reaction and gratitude definitely made all the effort worth it for everyone involved.
If you wanted to see some of the footage of our appearance on the Today Show recently, take a look at the videos below.
Here is Glenn’s live interview with Georgie Gardner on the Today Show about why Glenco is taking part in the renovation and what we were donating.
Watch below for a full highlights reel from the morning’s renovation rescue:
To find out even more about the Today Show project, read our full blog article here.
A short time ago, we were approached by hipages and the Today Show to help out a family who desperately needed it. The family had taken in their niece and nephew after the children’s main caregiver, their father, was tragically killed. The couple, with two children of their own, had attempted to extend their home to accommodate Azura and Torrin and make them feel as comfortable as possible under the terrible circumstances.
However, due to time and financial constraints, the couple, Amanda and Morgan, had to put a stop to the renos mid-way. And that, we were told, is where we would come in. We were asked to complete all of the electrical work, and install brand new air conditioning into the home. Our answer? It was a ‘no-brainer’, as Glenn put it. As a family owned business ourselves, operating for more than 30 years, we know the importance of family and our values were perfectly aligned with this project.
Whilst we knew that completing a renovation live on television in just over 3 hours was an ambitious endeavour, we also knew that the Glenco team would be up to the task. In the end we knew it would be completely worth it be able to help this family and were more than happy to get involved.
And so, we started planning the project, figuring out what we could supply and install in the house to make it the home it needed to be.
We knew the family had previously attempted to DIY some of the work, which meant we also knew that we may have to make a lot of the wiring in the property electrically safe. We did find some definite safety risks in the property along the way which we were able to repair and make safe immediately. But we went a lot further than that. Amongst other things, we installed new power points, switches, some brand new LED lighting, two new air conditioning systems generously donated by Panasonic, a new doorbell, security lighting, and completed some upgrades on the switchboard.
Along with a number of other tradies, Glenco had nearly a dozen people on-hand on the morning of the house renovation early on Wednesday 1st May. Our team of tradies were working across all three of our main services; Electrical, Air Conditioning, and Security.
If you’ve seen it you’ll know, the Today Show starts airing from 5:30am. So, we were onsite from 4am to make sure we were fully equipped for this race-against-the-clock reno! After some preparation, the show began at 5:30am and Today reporter Sarah Stewart let the air horn rip! And then, we were off. Almost two dozen tradies bolted inside the house with no time to lose. And from that moment, the organised chaos began. The electrical team started with the new power circuits for the air conditioning systems, whilst the aircon team started drilling in the brackets for the new systems to be hung onto. Then, some of the team started on the power and lighting, and of course the all-important doorbell which had always been missing from the home. All of this, whilst working around the landscapers, carpenters, and labourers!
The whole tradie team worked tirelessly throughout the morning, whilst also stopping intermittently to tell the live television cameras what they were working on. At about 7am Glenn was called up to be interviewed live with Georgie Gardner about Glenco’s contribution to the project. During the interview, Glenn mentioned “as Glenco is a family owned business…when we found out the plight the family were facing, that just sat really well with us. Everyone in our team pitched together and we said ‘we’ve gotta help these guys’!”
During the interview Georgie also declared to Glenn that Glenco had a lot of ‘man-power’ there that morning and asked if the team were on track to meet the tight 9am deadline. But it’s not just man-power we had onsite. As Glenn pointed out, “we actually have man and woman power here this morning with our female tradies also onsite” and he confirmed that “everyone (was) going really well”. We never doubted we had the team to get it done, although the TV crew were understandably nervous about meeting their strict live television deadline!
As the morning progressed you could really see a home starting to take shape. The interior decorators came in during the last 30 minutes of the reno to add the finishing touches such as a new couch and dining table. One of the most exciting additions was of course a door for the laundry toilet! Previously the family would yell ‘laundry door shut!” whenever someone was inside, to let others in the house know it was ‘occupied’…
At about 8:40am it was time for all the tradies, friends of the family, and Today Show crew to gather together in the back garden to surprise the family with their brand-new home. If you’ve ever been a guest at a surprise party, then you know exactly what it was like. We could hear the family enter the house being led in by the Today reporter Sarah Stewart. As they walked up to the front door one of the kids pressed our newly installed doorbell and everyone hiding out the back could hear it ring through the home. Sarah moved the family through the property, into the newly transformed living room. This was one of the rooms in which we had installed one of our split system air conditioning systems. As we quietly stood in the back garden we could hear one of the kids shout out with the upmost excitement “we have air conditioning!”. It was so amazing to be able hear the family’s exclamations from inside as they discovered all the new additions we had made to their home in the hours just prior.
The family were then informed how “so many people had been involved in this, and they (were all) here to see (them)”. The family then excitedly looked out in the backyard, and to their surprise they were greeted by friends, family, the full tradie team, TV crew, and the one and only Georgie Gardner! Georgie told the family that she “hoped they didn’t mind, but (they’d) enlisted the help of a few volunteers”, nodding back towards the huge tradie team standing behind her. Georgie told an emotional Amanda and Morgan how everybody had been so ready and willing to be involved. Through his tears Morgan told Georgie that he really “couldn’t thank them enough”. After a quick commercial break, we got to hear more from the family, including the children’s grandparents who had all gone through so much and were also so incredibly thankful. Seeing the reaction of the parents, children, and their relatives was a truly great moment to be a part of. They were genuinely so grateful for all the effort put in.
As the reveal continued it was such a fantastic feeling to be able to finally see the look on each and every one of the family’s faces as they took it all in. As Georgie spoke to each family member you could feel the raw emotion and gratitude they felt for everyone there, and it was a genuinely touching moment to be a part of. As Georgie wrapped up the show, her voice cracked with emotion as she told the hundreds of thousands of people watching that she had “had some great highlights in (her) career on the Today Show, but today, tops it all: it’s just been so special”. We couldn’t agree more Georgie. We have had some incredible highs throughout our 30 years as a business, but what we were able to complete in this one morning and the difference we were able to make in the family’s lives was truly moving. We are so privileged to have been able to be involved in this spectacular project.
Huge thanks go to the whole Today Show crew, the superb team at hipages, all the other tradies who were involved, and the gorgeous family who were so deserving of everything they received.
As a company surpassing 30 years in business, we have had a number of outstanding team members throughout the years. We value diversity within our workplace across age, gender, ability, sexuality, and culture, and we know we are a better company for it. Because of the supportive and inclusive environment Glenco produces, we have been able to create a Sydney female electrician team in the form of our fully qualified female electrician, and our two female apprentice electricians.
There are many reasons why some customers may prefer a female electrician for their job. We understand the reasons you may want to use a female electrician for your job, and so we are able to provide this option to our clients. This includes working across a range of jobs including;
Glenco has always been known as a revolutionary and forward-thinking business. Thus, when one of our female service coordinators wanted to fulfil a goal of becoming a qualified female tradesperson, we were more than happy to support her in that journey. Today, she is a third year apprentice with Glenco, having achieved many of her goals and well on her way to becoming a fully qualified lady tradie.
Within our team, Krissy is a fully qualified electrician. Krissy has been working as an electrician for several years, also completing part of her apprenticeship at Glenco. We also employ two female apprentice electricians. If your work requires two people as is commonly the case with electrical work, we can send our female electrical team to tackle the job together.
Glenco are a professional, family owned business operating within Sydney for over 30 years. We proudly support Lady Tradies and understand that there are times when our customers may prefer using a female tradesperson. All our work is backed by our company quality guarantee, with a lifetime warranty on all labour. With more than 30 years in business, you are guaranteed peace of mind when choosing Glenco and our female electricians, or ‘lady tradies’ for your job.
Glenco has won numerous trade business awards, including Best Trade Business in Australia 2016 and 2017 in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, and Best Trade Business in Australia 2018 backed by the Optus My Business Awards.
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Accreditations:
We are so excited to announce Glenco have been chosen the winner of the Australian Optus My Business Awards in the trade category! We are so proud to see the hard work and determination of our team pay off and to be recognised within our industry. Held at The Star, Sydney on Friday night (9th November), around 800 people flocked to witness all the excitement and drama of the night and to witness this year’s winners be crowned best of the best. The trade services category was one of the largest, with 9 other quality finalists from all over Australia in the mix.
As a company having reached 30 years in business this year, we find this a perfect way to end 2018. Some of the other great achievements for team Glenco in 2018 have included launching our new and refreshed brand, and becoming finalists in both the Telstra Business Awards and Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
We are very excited for this achievement as it was our first time entering the Optus My Business Awards. The awards acknowledge best practice within a particular industry sector, as well as individual business leaders, excellence in customer service and achievements in innovation, corporate social responsibility and workplace culture. Adam Zuchetti, editor of My Business, said it is another big year for Australia’s longest-running SME awards program, with a record number of submissions in 2018. Our hopes of walking away with a win were high, although there was definitely some stiff competition. The evening was filled with first class food and entertainment, and inspiring stories from business owners from all over the country.
Winning the prestigious award backed by one of the biggest brands in Australia, Optus, is truly an honour. We were so proud to be standing alongside some of the best businesses in Australia on the night. Our win is a result of the hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence of the entire Glenco team. This honour has topped off what has been an extremely exciting 30th year of business for Glenco and cemented our place as an industry leading trade service business in Australia. We look forward to providing you our service for the next 30 years and beyond.
Glenco are proud to announce we have been shortlisted as finalists for the prestigious Optus My Business Awards.
We have been shortlisted as a finalist in the Trades Business category, going up against 9 other finalists across the nation. Whilst we have been nominated as finalists and won other business awards before, we are very excited for this achievement as it is our first time entering the Optus My Business Awards.
The Optus My Business Awards cover 28 categories and acknowledge best practice within a particular industry sector, as well as individual business leaders, excellence in customer service and achievements in innovation, corporate social responsibility and workplace culture.
Winners from company related categories will be shortlisted for the highly coveted Business of the Year Award.
Adam Zuchetti, editor of My Business, said it is another big year for Australia’s longest-running SME awards program, with a record number of submissions this 2018.
“Small and medium-sized businesses are undeniably the backbone of our nation’s economy, as well as the heart of our local communities. It is wonderful to be able to recognise them on their achievements in service delivery, product innovation, workplace excellence and commitment to sustainability.”
“Every year, both the number and the quality of submissions we receive for the Optus My Business Awards gets better, making it an ever-more impressive feat for those stand-out businesses who are named finalists. Our judges really have their work cut out for them in trying to select this year’s winners!”
He added: “On behalf of the entire My Business team and our long-time partner Optus, I want to congratulate all of our finalists on this stellar achievement and wish them the very best of luck for the main event.”
Directors of Glenco Brad and Glenn Rosen are humbled by the nomination.
Glenco’s recognition for its excellent contribution to the Sydney community reinforces the strength of the brand in connecting with the community and engaging with its customers.
The winners will be announced at a black tie awards dinner on Friday, 9 November at The Star, Sydney. Best of luck to the other finalists and we have our fingers crossed!
At Glenco, we know the high standards we keep ensure we employ one of the best tradie teams in the business. Whilst it’s great that we’re confident about this, sometimes it’s stories like this that can remind us how right we are. Glenco’s core values include a focus on service. That means being reliable, delivering safe, friendly, clean and incomparable service at all times. Service includes doing the right thing and putting the customer’s need first. This is something that this story I’m about to tell reflects.
So, what’s the story you ask?
One of our electricians Mitch attended a property in Sydney’s Inner West recently to inspect some loose wiring that one of our real estate agents wanted made safe for an open home that was happening in the next couple of days. We were onsite completing the inspection within 24 hours for the agent. Mitch was the Glenco technician to attend. Once he got onsite he found a lot of cabling that was in high need of attention throughout the property. This included lighting and power cabling. Mitch and his apprentice quickly isolated the power to ensure the property was safe, and then quoted up everything that needed to be completed to bring this property’s wiring up to scratch.
As a part of Mitch’s inspection, he had a close look at the stove and oven in the property’s kitchen. Whilst carrying out their inspection, Mitch and his apprentice were surprised to find some objects hidden under the stove elements. As hiding anything in a stove can be quite dangerous because of the fire risk it presents, the techs removed these objects. They were then even more surprised to find these ‘large objects’ were actually large amounts of cash! They immediately called our office and informed our service manager, who was just as surprised at what they’d found. After finishing up their full inspection and quotation Mitch and his apprentice were able return the cash to the safe hands of the managing agent.
A few days later, we found out that the property was actually a deceased estate, and the previous occupant must have been hiding the cash in the stove for safekeeping (although not so safe cooking!). We also found out that the amount of money the technicians had found was over $1500 in cash.
We received this email from the owner of the real estate agency a few days later:
“Hello Brad
Hope all is well.
Just thought I’d send an email thanking you and letting you know about one of your honest staff that did a job recently at the above mentioned address.
Not often enough are good stories shared or good people pat on the back. One of your team was at this property and found $1500 in cash in the oven of this property.
The property is a deceased estate. The person could have easily kept this money and no one would have known. He handed this in to the selling agent who has passed on the funds to the estate.
I don’t know who he is so can you thank him for us and we appreciate him doing this.
I thought you’d like to know that you have good honest people working for you as the money has been passed on to the appropriate people.
Thanks Brad”
We’re super proud to have such great honest tradespeople working with team Glenco. Great job Mitch!
Extension cords can seem like the best answer to the common problem of short power cords. They’re also handy for when you don’t have enough electrical outlets in your home to cover the number of appliances you want to use, but is it a good idea to rely on extension cords over the long term?
While they might be convenient, cheap and easy to use, extension cords and power boards are a common cause of fires and electric shock. In many cases, it’s far safer and more practical to install extra electrical outlets if you find you are relying heavily on extension cords and power boards over the long term.
Here are a few of the problems that come with using extension cords in and around your home:
• Extension cords and power boards often deteriorate over time so if they are not replaced frequently it can increase the chances of a fire or electric shock. Replacing your power boards on a regular basis can get expensive when compared to the one-off cost of installing a new electrical outlet.
• When the cord part of an extension cord is covered over by carpets or furniture, there is no place for heat to escape, increasing the risk of fire.
• If appliances with a higher wattage rating than the cord is designed to handle are plugged in, it can impact safety.
• Plugging one extension cord into another to reach an extra distance is a common practice, but it can also be dangerous. Extension cords are only designed to be plugged in to a wall outlet, not another extension cord.
• It’s common to see power boards overloaded with multiple appliances – this can put an unnecessary drain on the power board and potentially cause a fire or electric shock.
Installing more electrical outlets can not only help to safeguard your home, it will also improve its appearance as you will reduce the number of unsightly cords trailing around behind furniture and along walls. Extension cords can also be a tripping hazard, especially if you have young children or older people in your home.
While using a power board or an extension cord can be a good temporary solution, if you have a shortage of electrical outlets in your home, or they are not located in a convenient position, the safest option is to get additional outlets installed. Extension cords are one of the most frequent causes of electric shocks and fires in the home – don’t take any chances with your home and family’s safety.
For a quote on your electrical outlet installation, call one of Glenco’s experienced electrical contractors in Sydney today.
How much power do your home appliances really use? Knowing your home appliances’ electrical requirements can be beneficial for two main reasons. The first of these is safety and the second is keeping your power bills low.
Safety
The first and most important reason you should consider conducting an electrical audit on your appliances is safety. If you use too many energy draining appliances in your home, you run the risk of overloading your home’s electrical systems and this can potentially cause damage and/or safety issues.
Always check that you aren’t plugging an appliance into an outlet that is designed for an appliance with lower electrical requirements. If you aren’t sure, it’s worth calling out your local electrician to have a look and advise you on your home’s capacity.
Save money
Another reason you may want to consider an electrical audit of your home is to identify any power-draining home appliances that might be costing you money. The cost of electricity is not getting any lower, and your home’s appliances can really push up your power bill. This is especially true of older appliances that might not be as energy efficient as their newer alternatives.
How to conduct an electrical audit of your appliances
Conducting an electrical audit of your appliances is fairly straightforward. If you know how much electricity they use, you can calculate your overall consumption and how much you are using at different power outlets. If you don’t know how much particular appliances are using, there are a few devices you can purchase that will monitor their usage and tell you how much electricity is really being consumed.
Be particularly aware that plugging multiple appliances in to powerboards can lead to excess pressure on your home’s electrical systems, even if the individual appliances are only operating at a low wattage.
If you notice any signs of overloading such as your circuit breakers tripping frequently or visible damage to power outlets, it’s a good idea to get in touch with an electrician as soon as possible to have a professional audit of your home’s electrical circuits.
Unfortunately, overloaded electrical circuits in the home can lead to more than just higher electrical costs, they can potentially cause a fire or pose a safety risk to you and your family.
Keep an eye on your home’s electricity usage, especially your appliances, and you can safeguard your family as well as keep your power costs under control.
We are thrilled to announce we have officially been nominated as finalists for the Telstra Business Awards in the Medium Business Awards category.
This is the second time we have become finalists in the awards, and it is a great honour to be a part of the prestigious awards. Glenco were finalists in the Telstra Business Awards in 2015 as well.
There are between 3 and 5 finalists in our category and there were over 500 entries in NSW. That puts us in the top 1% of businesses in NSW and we couldn’t be prouder of our team.
The awards provide us assurance that we are doing things right by our customers, right within the industry and in business in general.
It might be cool or rainy outside, but the colder months of the year are actually the best time to prepare your home for bushfire season.
In many rural and suburban areas, bushfires can pose a real danger to property and lives. While there are services in place to fight bushfires, there are a number of things you can do to help protect your home.
Here are a few steps you can take now to prepare your home well in advance of bushfire season.
Now is a good time to trim trees and pick up leaves from around your home. If you have any debris lying around your house, take it away and dispose of it. Keeping the area around your property clear of anything that could pose a fire risk is a crucial step to keeping it protected in the event of a bushfire.
Winter is a good time to clean out your gutters and remove any foliage dropped there during summer and autumn. Leaves and twigs in gutters can be a huge risk in a bushfire and can make it easier for a fire to move to the roof of your home.
It’s not just the outside of your home that is at risk during a bushfire, embers and sparks can enter the inside of your home through air vents, gaps in the walls and openings in the roof. Make sure your home is adequately sealed so that no stray embers can get inside and cause damage from within. Generally this involves installing wire mesh screens on all windows, doors and air vents.
If you have spare gas canisters for a barbecue or camping, make sure they’re not stored against the side of your house. The cooler months are the time to think about relocating them to a shed or other area that’s away from your property.
Consider your family’s safety
If you live in a bushfire-prone area, it’s crucial to have an evacuation plan in place. Think about where you will go and when, and how you will get there. Don’t forget to include pets in your plan and practice it so all your family members know what to do in an emergency.
Be aware that during a bushfire there may be disruption to your electrical services. It’s a good idea to stock up on batteries, candles, torches and other supplies in case of a power outage.
