About Holgate & French

Holgate & French (Shelford) Ltd are a family owned company based in Ely. We can offer a friendly and professional service with our team of fully qualified electricians and testing engineers.

We provide a wide range of electrical services, both domestic and commercial, everything from moving a socket to a complete rewire. Our services include the following:

• Breakdown and Repairs
• Electrical survey and report
• Kitchen refurbishments
• Bathroom refurbishments
• Installations
• Servicing
• Commercial services

Origin
Tony French joined the Eastern Electricity Board as an apprentice from school in 1960. After serving a craft apprenticeship, became an electrician in 1965. He then met David Holgate as an apprentice, where they occasionally worked together and became friends.

The Partnership
The Partnership was formed and Holgate & French started trading in 1971 from premises in Sawston. The business moved to its first commercial location in Station Road, Gt. Shelford, during the late 1970's.

Incorporation
During early 1980, for various business reasons, the partners formed Holgate & French (Shelford) Ltd.

Significant History
The business steadily grew until the landlord went into liquidation and the company were forced to seek other premises in 1985. It was during this time that the directors mutually agreed to discontinue the original partnership and Tony purchased David's interest.

The business relocated to Barnwell Drive, Cambridge in May 1985 where it traded for the next six years.

During 1991 various circumstances resulted in the Directors seeking alternative premises.

New premises
A site was found in Ely, a purpose made building was erected and Holgate and French (Shelford) Ltd moved into its own premises on September 21st 1992 (21 years from the creation of the original partnership) and where it is still located.

Present day
The company remains a family owned private company, run primarily by Tony and Jill French with the assistance of a superb management team, Les Pettit, Theresa Badcock and Sheila Raznick.

The work force consists of some 20 electricians, carrying out a variety of local works ranging from, and including, large commercial installations to domestic response maintenance.

Holgate and French are pleased to be associated with Hereward Housing Society, Kings Forest Housing Society and South Cambridgeshire District Council on a daily basis with contracts for response maintenance and many others.

Community
Holgate & French are situated in the heart of Ely and support the Ely Christmas Lights project. We have become a familiar sight to local residents when we help bring Christmas to the city putting up the lights every year, and assisting with the big switch on!