Underwoods Electrical Distributors: How iHasco turned training into something people actually want to do
Training at Underwoods Electrical Distributors used to feel like a box to tick. Today, it’s something employees actively ask for. Underwoods Electrical Distributors‘ Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental (QHSE) team used our full course library, powered by Atlas LMS, to turn compliance training into a resource people genuinely value. This built a group-wide learning system that now supports multiple businesses, each with their own operational needs.
Watch the full story, straight from James Fuller, the QHSE Manager who led the change.
Who are Underwoods?
Underwoods Electrical Distributors has been connecting electrical and automation manufacturers with UK and Irish industry since 1953, when the business started out as G.D. Underwoods on a small industrial estate in Tottenham.
Today, Underwoods Electrical Distributors operate from more than a dozen regional offices across the UK and Ireland as a Siemens Certified Platinum Partner, supplying and supporting industrial automation products from PLCs and drives to safety systems and industrial networking, for manufacturing and engineering businesses. Alongside distribution, Underwoods Electrical Distributors pride themselves on hands-on technical support and training, helping customers keep pace with the latest automation and controls technology.
- Client: Underwoods Electrical Distributors
- Key outcome: A group-wide LMS supporting multiple businesses with different operational needs
- Reported benefits: Higher training engagement, happier managers, sharper QHSE reporting
What is QHSE, and why does it matter at Underwoods Electrical Distributors?
QHSE stands for Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental, which is the part of a business responsible for keeping employees safe, supported and properly trained, while making sure the company meets its quality and environmental standards. At Underwoods Electrical Distributors, the QHSE team looks after all of this across the whole business, which means training sits right at the heart of what they do.
What challenge was Underwoods facing?
When James Fuller, QHSE Manager, stepped into the role, training had a bit of an image problem. It was something people had to do, not something they wanted to do, and seen as a mandatory task rather than a genuine opportunity to grow. There wasn’t yet a single system tying training together across Underwoods Electrical Distributors‘ different businesses, which made it harder to build real engagement or get a clear view of progress.
What results did Underwoods Electrical Distributors see from using iHasco?
The change has been felt across the whole business. James highlights:
- A real shift in how people feel about training — from “I have to” to “I want to.” Employees now see training as something that helps them grow, not just a compliance checkbox.
- A genuinely lovely moment with an apprentice — when they asked about several development courses, the QHSE team checked our library and could say yes to every single one, on the spot. It was proof the culture was truly changing.
- One group-wide LMS — a single home for training that flexes to support multiple businesses within Underwoods, each with different needs.
- Happier, better-informed managers — with clear oversight of training progress across their teams.
- Sharper QHSE reporting — the team can now track progress, report on objectives and measure improvement with real confidence.
What does Underwoods Electrical Distributors’ QHSE Manager say about Atlas LMS?
“Atlas LMS has become far more than just a training platform. It’s become one of the key tools that’s helped me drive positive change within the business.”
“If you get the right system, the right support and the right culture around it, training can genuinely influence people in a really positive way.”
– James Fuller, QSHE Officer
What is QHSE?
QHSE stands for Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental. It’s the team responsible for keeping employees safe and well-trained while making sure a business meets its quality and environmental obligations.
What is Atlas LMS?
Atlas LMS is iHasco‘s Learning Management System (LMS). Underwoods uses it to give every employee, group-wide, warm and easy access to iHasco‘s full course library from one friendly platform.
Can Atlas LMS support businesses with multiple operational areas?
Yes, happily so. Underwoods uses Atlas LMS as one flexible, group-wide system supporting multiple businesses, each with its own operational requirements.
Does iHasco offer development courses beyond compliance training?
Yes. Underwoods’ QHSE team found that development courses requested by an apprentice were available through iHasco’s full course library, right alongside essential compliance training.