As it’s first five years drew to a close the future of the Association was uncertain.

In 1924 the ERA did not know whether the government grant that initially funded it would be renewed.

Its initial work up to this point had been on developing new technologies around on insulators and switches.

However, the ERA’s president, Mr Llewelyn Birchall Atkinson, was able to negotiate the continuation of the grant going into 1926 on the condition that the government would meet half of the Association’s costs that year, but gradually reduce its contribution over the following five years to a fraction of that amount.

As the association grew it required more space for its work.

In 1936 a new auxiliary laboratory at Perivale was opened by the Duke of York. Its purpose was to supplement the research services that the Electrical Research Association provides from its headquarters with government support in the interests of the electrical industry and the community.

During the Second World War the ERA gave direct assistance to the war effort. The Ministry of Labour clarified it as an “essential undertaking”.

Wartime activities included the development of radar and mine detection equipment.

In 1957 the headquarters of the ERA were opened in Leatherhead, Surrey. The ERA’s existing staff and work transferred from their previous home at Perivale laboratories

The 18-acre campus included major new laboratories and offices and has continued to the present day with the addition of several large purpose-built facilities.

Income for the ERA had traditionally come from subscriptions from its member companies and the UK Government grants.

In 1969 the ERA began a major restructuring project to reflect the rapidly changing technology base of the UK Engineering sector.

By becoming the first ‘privatised’ research association the ERA was able to derive income from single client and multi-client projects.

ERA formally changed its name from The Electrical Research Association Ltd to its present name, ERA Technology Ltd in September 1979.

The organisation would act as Britain’s leading independent consulting organisations.

During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s ERA continued to grow and develop into new research areas, including RF technology and electronic systems.

It also expanded into providing a wide range of engineering consultancy services for mechanical as well as electronic and electrical systems.

In doing so it established itself as one of Britain’s leading independent consulting organisations at the leading edge of technology development.

In January 2001, the ERA organisation was transferred to a new trading company while the original company, which limited by guarantee, was renamed The ERA Foundation.

The trading operation retained the name ERA Technology and was run as a wholly commercial enterprise, responsible to its shareholders.

In September 2003, the company announced it would sell the entire issued share capital of ERA Technology to Cobham PLC.

The proceeds of this sale and sale of the property company forms the basis for the ERA Foundation’s continuing support for electrotechnology.