Electrical skills shortage persists in Kent's £4.9bn construction sector

Electrical installation is among the trades facing a skills shortage in Kent – where the construction sector is worth £4.9 billion – according to new analysis from field service management platform Field Ascend Employers in the county have reported shortages in electrical installation, plumbing and heating, carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, plastering, scaffolding, groundworks and plant operation. The latest Kent and Medway Local Skills Improvement Plan warns that major projects, including the Lower Thames Crossing, are expected to keep demand for skilled workers high. Construction accounts for 18.4% of businesses in Kent, compared with 15.6% across the South East and 14.1% across England. The sector supports 50,500 jobs in the county, or around 58,000 across Kent and Medway, with almost half of construction roles classed as skilled trades. Field Ascend also ranked UK local authorities by the proportion of businesses operating in trades. Gravesham placed third nationally at 30.8%, followed by Medway (13th, 28.3%), Swale (15th, 26.3%) and Maidstone (21st, 25.8%). Richard Skelson, Managing Director at field service management platform Field Ascend, comments: "Kent has a large trades and construction workforce, but shortages across several skilled professions mean many businesses are already trying to manage busy workloads with limited capacity. “When teams are stretched, even small operational delays can have a knock-on effect. Engineers still need access to schedules, job details and customer information while moving between sites, and losing connectivity can make that harder. “For homeowners, that can mean slower updates, rearranged appointments or longer gaps between stages of a job, particularly when local businesses are already balancing high demand with shortages in skilled labour. “Gravesham stands out because nearly a third of local businesses operate in trades, while several other Kent areas also rank prominently. With so much of the local economy depending on field-based work, businesses need processes that allow jobs to keep moving without every task relying on a live mobile connection."

One step at a time: the benefits of interoperable technology in automation modernisation

By John Mackey, Head of Automation Sales, WAGO UK & Ireland The internet, one of the most transformational technologies shaping the 21st century, demonstrates the value of common, open networking standards. Any internet-connected device can use standard protocols for finding and sharing files, which means that consumers can use any PC or smartphone without having to worry about whether it can access websites or play a YouTube video. The same principle applies in industrial and building automation. In the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), sensors, controllers, actuators, software and data systems are connected through a range of networking technologies and open standards, giving operators flexibility to integrate equipment from different manufacturers. The industry bodies which maintain fieldbus standards, such as PROFINET or EtherCAT, also provide open specifications for their connectivity technologies. These specifications allow different manufacturers of connected equipment to ensure that their products are interoperable. Incremental gains from interoperable systems The interoperability across building and industrial networks is giving rise to a new approach to the implementation of automation technology. The traditional approach has been ‘death or glory’, to use a military metaphor: committing to an all-new installation in a large, monolithic system planned and provided by a single equipment manufacturer. The rationale is that everything – network, devices, controllers – comes from a single source, so the supplier guarantees that all the components work together. But the costs associated with this single-supplier assurance are steep: • Financial cost – the approach requires them to make a substantial upfront capital investment • Operational cost – the all-or-nothing switch causes disruption to staff and processes as legacy equipment is decommissioned • Configuration cost – limited to a single supplier’s product portfolio, users are denied the freedom to choose other devices which might fit their application’s requirements better In other words, in exchange for the promise of a fully integrated, all-in-one system, users bear the risk of becoming locked into the products and services of a single supplier. The interoperability provided by the IIoT and open connectivity standards frees automation system users from this trap. Now it has become possible to make continual, incremental gains in operational efficiency, the ethos which has worked so well for sports teams such as British Cycling, without the disruption caused by an all-new installation. This approach enables operators to maintain their legacy systems, while performing staged upgrades either of individual items of equipment or of sections of an automation system. In this approach, operators can prioritise those elements which will provide the biggest operational improvement or return on investment, while keeping the rest of a proven system in place. Open standards can also improve resilience by widening the pool of potentially compatible components and suppliers from which replacement parts may be sourced, provided always that the parts are evaluated for their ability to meet the application’s functional, safety, certification and configuration requirements. This is why small and medium-sized industrial and commercial organisations are taking a fresh look at automation modernisation. A gradual approach allows them to prioritise the investments that offer the strongest operational benefit or return, while reducing disruption and implementation risk. By upgrading in stages, organisations can test, review and refine each element before proceeding further. For users who value flexibility, resilience and efficiency, incremental modernisation provides a practical and lower-risk path forward. For more from WAGO, click here. This article is sponsored by Wago UK

Nexos Group consolidates brands under new integrated identity

Nexos Group has consolidated its specialist consulting, engineering, power technology and delivery organisations under one umbrella  The move sees Nexos Power (formerly Powerstar), Nexos Consulting (formerly OSL Consulting Engineers), Kelton and Nexos Solutions come together as Nexos Group. The new group structure means Nexos Power’s existing customers can now engage with a single group capable of supporting multiple projects, from feasibility studies and front-end engineering through to power system design, battery energy storage deployment, transformer solutions and project delivery: Nexos Consulting: engineering expertise to help clients understand their challenges and identify opportunities with technical insights. Nexos Solutions: engineering, procurement and construction expertise across the energy, infrastructure and power sectors, bridging the gap between strategy and project execution. Kelton: specialist measurement that supports the operation of energy infrastructure to help customers make operational, commercial and regulatory decisions. Dan McAteer, CEO at Nexos Group, explains: “It’s about giving our customer base a cohesive platform through which they can access our full-service offering. By operating as one group, we’re making it simpler and clearer for clients to engage with us, regardless of the solution they require.” “Nexos Power, formerly Powerstar, has extensive expertise in helping customers reduce energy demand while improving resilience and stability. That capability is becoming increasingly important as organisations look for greater control over their energy infrastructure.”

Luceco warns 'growth will be stifled' unless sector supports apprentices

The Trade Sales Director for UK lighting manufacturer Luceco has issued a stark warning about the critical need to attract more young people into apprenticeships if there is to be "any hope" of the industry achieving its "rich growth potential" Speaking during an industry-wide gathering hosted by the Scottish section of the Electrical Distributors’ Association at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Ian Hunter said the electrotechnical industry has the capacity and capability to service a much bigger market, but that ambition would be stifled without enough skilled people to carry out the work. Hunter's message comes after Luceco last month pledged to invest £18,000 to support apprentices in Scotland in partnership with Scottish trade association SELECT. Hunter, who began his career as an electrical apprentice, said: “What I am really concerned about, both short term and long term, is the shortage of skilled electricians, which is a major issue for everyone in this room. “I look at the incredible potential we have to provide products and services to an industry that is potentially much bigger than where we are today. “Advances in technology, product innovation, project management, same day stock availability, training, data, credit – they are all key ingredients in delivering the buildings of the future and the ongoing upgrade of the country’s existing portfolio and infrastructure. “We can meet growing demands, but we need more people to install those products.” Sharon Miller, Managing Director of SELECT, added: “The feedback from distributors, manufacturers and members has been very positive. conversation around the initiative has been strong with great feedback from distributors and manufacturers as well as the Electrical Contractors’ Association. “This partnership is a practical example of industry coming together to find solutions and support the next generation of electricians.” For more from Luceco, click here | For more from SELECT, click here.

Exclusive: what makes an electrical contracting firm attractive to buyers?

Joe Lewin, founder and CEO of corporate advisory firm DealFlowAgent, and Duncan Moore, Director of M&A, explain how electrical contractors can prepare their businesses for sale and strengthen their appeal to potential acquirers An acquirer that approaches the owner of an electrical contracting business must decide whether the profit will continue after the ownership changes. Acquirers of more than one type have been active in UK electrical services. In March 2026 a specialist services group acquired an electrical inspection, testing and compliance business. North American private equity firms have also announced investments in the sector. Warburg Pincus agreed to acquire a majority stake in the UK building compliance provider PTSG in May 2021, and H.I.G. Capital announced the acquisition of CPS Building Services in 2022. DFA expects an acquirer to apply four checks, and each rests on a record that an owner can prepare. 1. How much revenue repeats through inspection, testing and maintenance Acquirers separate recurring inspection, testing and maintenance revenue from new installation projects, because recurring work repeats on a schedule while project work has to be won again. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require in regulation 4(2) that systems are maintained so as to prevent danger so far as is reasonably practicable. The 2025 amendment extends the five-yearly inspection duty in the 2020 electrical safety regulations in England to the social rented sector. For tenancies granted before 1 December 2025, 1 November 2026 is the date before which a registered provider must complete the first inspection. Key action: Divide three years of revenue into recurring inspection, testing and maintenance work and new installation projects, and list each recurring contract with its renewal date and annual value. 2. Which accreditations the company holds The NICEIC Approved Contractor Scheme assesses a contractor's competence to carry out electrical work against BS 7671. An acquirer asks when each assessment falls due and what applies when ownership changes. Key action: List every accreditation the company holds and its next assessment date, and ask the scheme in writing what applies when ownership changes. 3. How much of the business depends on named individuals NICEIC requires a Principal Duty Holder and Qualified Supervisors, and a Qualified Supervisor needs at least two years' responsibility for electrical work. In the March 2026 transaction, the acquirer's announcement states that the founder and managing director will remain with the business. Key action: For each major client, write down who holds the relationship, who prices the work and who signs the test certificates, and name a second person for each role. 4. How concentrated the clients are and what the contracts allow Acquirers calculate each client's share of annual revenue and read each contract for its renewal date, break clause and change-of-control terms. A contract that the client can end at short notice after a change of control gives less certainty about future revenue, so the acquirer applies a lower multiple. Key action: Calculate the revenue share of each of the ten highest-revenue clients, and list the renewal date, break clause and change-of-control terms of each contract. How the four checks change what an electrical contracting business is worth Two electrical contracting businesses each reported EBITDA of £800,000 twelve months ago. EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, and it is the annual trading profit to which an acquirer applies a multiple. Over the following year the owner of the first business optimised the business and operating model so that each check could be answered in writing, and the owner of the second business made no changes. At assumed multiples of six times and four times EBITDA, the first business is worth £4,800,000 and the second is worth £3,200,000, a difference of £1,600,000 on identical profit. The multiples are assumptions chosen to show the arithmetic, and they are not market averages. Key takeaways Acquirers of electrical contracting businesses check four records: how much revenue repeats through inspection, testing and maintenance, which accreditations the company holds, how much of the business depends on named individuals, and how concentrated the clients are. An owner who can answer each check in writing gives an acquirer more confidence in the profit. Two businesses with equal EBITDA of £800,000 are worth £4,800,000 and £3,200,000 at assumed multiples of six and four.

How electrical contractors can win more work with Google reviews

Grant Matthews, founder of marketing specialist Biz Support Digital, draws on research into thousands of UK trade businesses to determine how electrical contractors can use Google reviews to strengthen their online reputation It is half past seven on a wet Tuesday. The trip switch keeps going and the kettle won't boil. The homeowner picks up their phone and types "electrician near me". Google shows them a map and three local firms. Next to each name sits a star rating, the number of reviews and, a tap away, how long ago the last one was written. They ring the one that looks busiest and most trusted, and that is usually the one with plenty of recent reviews. The firm that gets the call is not always the best electrician in town. Quite often it is simply the one whose customers wrote something down. The numbers We looked at the Google reviews of 3,576 UK electrical businesses as part of a wider study of 41,873 trade and service firms. The ones that do get reviewed average 4.8 stars out of 5, so customers are clearly happy with the work. Yet 49% had no Google reviews at all, and 84% had fewer than ten. The study covered firms without a website, so it leans towards sole traders and small outfits that live on word of mouth and their Google listing. Those are exactly the firms that lose out most when a customer compares three names on a screen. In most cases the electrician simply never asked. Why reviews matter to Google as well as customers Google says it ranks local businesses on three things: how well they match the search, how close they are, and how well known they are. It names the number of reviews and the star rating as part of that last one. You can't move your van closer to every customer, but you can make sure the work you already do shows up. Customers also read the dates. A firm with 40 reviews, the newest from 2023, looks quieter than a firm with 25 reviews where the last one came in last week. People want to know you are still trading and still turning up. Step 1: get your review link Sign in to Google with the account that manages your business listing. Then search Google for your business name, typed exactly as it appears on your listing. A panel called "Your business on Google" appears at the top of the results. It is only visible to you, and it has a row of buttons: Edit profile, Read reviews, Photos and so on. Click "Ask for reviews". Google shows you a short link that takes a customer straight to the box where they leave stars and a comment. Copy it and save it on your phone as a note or a text shortcut so it is always to hand. If the panel doesn't show up, the name you typed probably doesn't match your listing exactly. Search "my business" instead, scroll down to "You manage these profiles" and click "View profile" next to your business. If you have no Google Business Profile at all, set one up first. It is free, and it is the listing that appears on the map. Step 2: ask on the day, by text The best time to ask is when the job is signed off and the customer is pleased: the lights are back on, the new consumer unit is labelled up, the EICR is in their inbox. Wait a week and they have moved on. A short text works better than a card left on the side. Something like: Hi Sarah, thanks for having us in today. If you're happy with the new consumer unit, a quick Google review would really help a small firm like ours. Here's the link: [your link]. Thanks, Dave Keep it personal and mention the actual job. Most people are glad to help when it takes thirty seconds and the link is right there. Step 3: ask everyone, and keep it honest Ask every customer, not only the ones you think will leave five stars. Google's rules don't allow you to pick and choose who gets asked, and a profile with nothing but perfect scores can look less believable than one with the odd four. Never offer a discount, a free test or anything else in return for a review, and never buy reviews or write them for yourself. Fake reviews and hidden paid-for reviews have been illegal in the UK since April 2025 under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, and Google removes them when it finds them. Step 4: reply to every review Replying shows the next customer that a real person runs the business and cares how jobs go. A line or two is plenty: Thanks, Mrs Davies. Glad the outside lights are working well, and thanks for the tea. The occasional poor review will happen. Reply calmly, keep it short and don't argue in public: Sorry the job ran into a second day, Mr Hughes. We found a fault in the old wiring that needed putting right before we could finish safely. Please ring me if anything isn't right. Step 5: keep the profile up to date Customers look at more than stars. Make sure your Google Business Profile says what you actually do, in the words customers use: EICRs, fuse box and consumer unit upgrades, EV charger installs, rewires, fault finding. Add the towns and villages you cover, your real opening hours and whether you take emergency call-outs. Add a few photos every month: tidy consumer units, finished jobs, your van with the name on it. If you are registered with a scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT, say so in the description. All of it helps a nervous homeowner decide you are a safe pair of hands. Make it a habit The firms at the top of the map rarely got there with one big push. They ask after every job, so one or two reviews come in most weeks and the newest one is never old. Try it for three months. Save the link, send the text the day each job is signed off, and reply to whatever comes in. For most small electrical firms that is enough to move from "no reviews" to looking like the busy, trusted firm customers ring first. Grant Matthews is the founder of Biz Support Digital

NAPIT outlines training support amid BS 7671 Amendment 4 rollout

Certification body and training provider NAPIT has outlined the range of resources available to its members to help them understand Amendment 4 to BS 7671 The regulation change took full effect on October 15, following the withdrawal of the previous version. NAPIT is supporting its members with a range of resources to help them understand the changes and keep their knowledge up to date, including virtual, online and classroom-based learning at NAPIT training centres, with options of one-and three-day courses. Amendment 4 publications are available to buy, including the Wiring Regulations, On-Site Guide and Guidance Note 3, as well as All NAPIT publications. NAPIT members can also use the NAPIT Knowledge Hub, which is a free member benefit. The CPD platform has three Amendment 4 webinars and automatically logs completed CPD, while enabling members to upload live webinar certificates. Stephen Melton, NAPIT Managing Director, says: “It’s key that electricians can stay up to date and deliver the highest professional standards. Through publications, training and CPD resources, members can stay compliant, up to date and maintain their professional knowledge as Amendment 4 comes into full force.” For more from NAPIT, click here | For more on BS 7671 Amendment 4, click here

UK Power Networks reveals new-look Finsbury Market substation

Distribution network operator UK Power Networks has refurbished its Finsbury Market substation in central London with a near half-a-million-pound investment The upgrade to the electrical infrastructure near Liverpool Street saw a pair of transformers improved, as well as the perimeter of the compound becoming a canvas for street art by Global Street Art and artist Nelio Riga. The electricity firm invested £483,000 into the overhaul, with the upgrade set to improve reliability and strengthen power supplies for the area. UK Power Networks Project Manager, Chanelle Mistry, says: “This investment is giving vital infrastructure a new lease of life. By refurbishing and maintaining the two transformers, we are helping to strengthen the local electricity network and improve reliability for the many businesses and residents who depend on it every day and into the future. "While we've been upgrading the equipment behind the scenes, we're also pleased to see the outside of the site transformed through an exciting new piece of artwork that will help brighten the local area.” Dr Lee Bofkin, Co-Founder of Global Street Art, adds: "It has been a pleasure working with UK Power Networks and Broadgate Quarter on such an important and prominent site helps us move towards our ongoing mission to 'live in painted cities'. "We'd like to thank UK Power Networks and everyone else involved for their dedication to this ambitious project. I frequently walk past the walls, as do so many people, and it is great to see the project so well received." For more from UK Power Networks, click here.

BS 7671 Amendment 4: what changes on 15 October?

Amendment 4 to BS 7671 becomes the only current version of the Wiring Regulations today (15 October). Here's what that means for designs and contracts already under way The previous version of the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024, has been withdrawn as a British Standard. Amendment 4:2026, published in April, is now the only current version. Here's what the withdrawal means – and doesn't mean – for electrical contractors, and what to do next. New installations A new installation from today must comply with the new regulations introduced by Amendment 4. Jobs already under way According to trade body SELECT, an installation under construction that was designed to the previous version may continue to be erected and can be verified to that standard, subject to the contractual arrangements agreed. So, whether you can finish a live job to the old version depends on what your contract says. If you're unsure where a project stands, check with your client, designer or trade body, and get any decision in writing. What it doesn't mean An installation built to an earlier version is unlikely to comply fully with the latest one, but that doesn't make it unsafe or mean it must be upgraded. What's new in Amendment 4 Batteries: a new Chapter 57 covers stationary secondary batteries, with more than 18 new regulations. Power over Ethernet (PoE): a new Section 716 limits SELV and PELV supplies to 60 V ripple-free DC in dry locations and 15 V elsewhere. ICT earthing: a new Section 545 covers functional earthing and bonding for ICT equipment. Medical locations: Section 710 has been significantly revised. EICRs: a new requirement means reports must be based on the revised model in Appendix 6. What to do now Check which version your live contracts and specifications refer to; Get a copy of Amendment 4, identifiable by its orange cover; Update designs, certificates and report templates. Appendix 6 has minor changes to the EIC and MEIWC forms and major changes to the EICR; and brief your team before the next job starts. ECN will be explaining the main changes over the coming weeks. Visit our Amendment 4 hub or send your questions to will@allthingsmedialtd.com.

Network Rail appoints Actemium UK to fleet electrification project

Actemium UK, a provider of engineered electrical, automation, and mechanical services, has been chosen by Network Rail as one of two suppliers to support its transition to a zero-emission road fleet The project involves a new £13 million EV charging framework covering operational sites across Wales and the west of England. As a framework delivery partner, Actemium will enable the rollout of charging infrastructure for passenger and commercial vehicles, helping Network Rail electrify its road fleet towards 2030. Up to 45 sites are expected to form part of the programme, including maintenance depots, offices and signalling locations. Charging requirements will be tailored to each site, vehicle profile and dwell time, with infrastructure ranging from 22 kW AC chargers to 150 kW DC rapid charging. The framework forms part of Network Rail’s wider decarbonisation plans, providing the capacity needed to reduce reliance on internal combustion engine vehicles and lower the environmental impact of its road fleet. Actemium UK will provide multidisciplinary engineering expertise across its allocated projects, from site assessment and feasibility through to design, construction, commissioning, handover and staff training. Acting as Principal Contractor, Actemium UK will manage delivery in line with Network Rail’s technical, health and safety, and environmental requirements, while minimising disruption across live operational sites. Building foundations Rafael Carrilho, Sector Manager at Actemium UK, says: “Network Rail operates a diverse road fleet across a large and operationally complex estate in Wales and the West of England, with each location having distinct power demands and operational constraints. "As a trusted UK e-mobility delivery partner, our role is to bring together the electrical, civil and charging infrastructure at each site to create a safe, reliable and future-ready solution. We're delighted to be delivering the EV charging solutions that meet Network Rail's operational needs today, while supporting its transition to an electric fleet.” Julie Woodward, Programme Director at Network Rail, adds: "Rail is already the greenest form of mass public transport, and decarbonising our road fleet is an important part of making it even more sustainable. "By investing in charging infrastructure across our sites, we're creating the foundations needed for a zero-emission road vehicle fleet, helping reduce carbon emissions while supporting the safe and reliable operation of the railway."  For more from Actemium UK, click here.