TEP Electrical Distributors, Darlington celebrate national success

TEP Electrical Distributors, on Valley Street, was recently named Wholesaler of the Year at the 2025 Electrical Industry Awards.

The firm has won four national awards in the past two years, despite only operating from a single branch in Darlington.

Part of TEP’s work includes delivering complex lighting upgrade programmes for heritage buildings and five-star hospitality venues.

Its work also stretches nationwide, including a LED lighting upgrade partnership with Vertu Motors.

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy visited the company last week ahead of its anniversary and to also celebrate its recent successes.

General manager of TEP, Sarah Marshall, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Lola to TEP. As we approach this milestone, it feels important to reflect on what that journey represents.

“Four generations of family ownership, strong local relationships and a team that genuinely cares about doing things properly.

“The awards are something we’re incredibly proud of, particularly as a single-branch business competing on a national stage.

“But for us, success is also about the jobs we create here in Darlington, the apprentices we support and the partnerships we’ve built over many years.”

The Darlington MP met Connor Dixon, a former apprentice at the firm who was recently recognised as one of Tees Valley’s star apprentices.

Ms McEvoy said: “It’s brilliant to see Darlington businesses recognised at a national level and to mark TEP’s long service to the town.

“A personal highlight was meeting Connor, who recently completed an apprenticeship at TEP and has since been announced as a Tees Valley Star Apprentice.

“This government is doing lots of work to support young people like Connor to find work via a variety of routes and apprenticeships are a key one.”

Looking to the future, Nimble Thompson, a third-generation family member said: “Reaching more than a century in business is something we’re immensely proud of, but we’re not standing still.

“The next chapter is about helping more organisations transition to energy-efficient solutions, strengthening local supply networks and continuing to invest in the people who make this business what it is.

“We’ve always believed that long-term success comes from doing the right thing for our customers, our team and our community. That will not change.”