Wallbox and Osprey partner to expand reliable public charging in the UK

Wallbox N.V., a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Osprey, one of the UK’s largest and leading rapid EV charging networks. The collaboration will begin by expanding the Osprey network with 125 units of Wallbox’s Supernova DC rapid charger coupled with WBX care program; offering preventative and corrective maintenance to its Supernova fleet. Charge point availability and reliability are both crucial for consumer confidence in making the switch to electric vehicles. Wallbox’s Supernova rapid charger uses a modular design with a simple user-centric experience and payment process. This ensures that EV drivers get ease of use and a high standard of reliability, whilst charge point operators can scale the units easily to improve availability. Both Wallbox and Osprey are committed to developing and deploying this reliable public charging at scale to accelerate the transition to zero-emission transport. “We are excited to partner with Osprey to offer EV drivers across the UK access to a reliable DC charging network,” says Phil Bond, DC Key Account Manager UK+IE. “Designed to fit into a wide variety of locations, the first 125 Supernova rapid chargers will be deployed in more than 15 locations across the UK.”  “Our partnership with Wallbox enables us to increase the number of rapid chargers we can easily install at locations with low voltage connections,” says Lewis Gardiner, Head of Operations, Osprey Charging Network. “Wallbox’s Supernova rapid charger meets our needs for power availability, ease of installation and maintenance, while offering the seamless experience we expect as standard for our customers.”  The first chargers installed as part of this collaboration recently went live at Towneley Garden Centre, Burnley.  Read more from Wallbox here.

ABB opens new facility to support increasing demand for cabling

Following a significant site investment and multi-year expansion, ABB Installation Products has opened its John Austin Showroom and Collaboration Centre within its Coleshill, UK facility, to accelerate next generation electrical cable and conduit solutions. The facility brings together research and development engineers, product training specialists, operations and customer service to collaborate with customers on cable management and protection products for heavy-duty vehicle, rail and infrastructure, commercial construction, marine and data centre applications. Named for ABB employee, John Austin, who was a pioneer in electrical conduit design and helped establish international industry standards, the showroom honours his 50-year legacy of innovation. The dedicated space includes product displays of custom solutions to support ideation and training, while driving designs that address the evolving needs of sectors such as original equipment manufacturing (OEMs), e-mobility and transportation. ABB Installation Products’ investment in the Coleshill facility, including high-capacity equipment such as an advanced vacuum corrugator, has helped boost production capacity by 35% to meet increased demand for ABB Adaptaflex flexible cable protection solutions and Harnessflex specialist conduit systems. In addition to expanded lines and increased efficiency, automated coiling systems and laser printing have helped remove hazardous waste from the printing operation. “From heavy-duty electric vehicles to electrification solutions for global transportation networks and data centres, many sectors we serve are experiencing significant change. Our new John Austin centre allows us to work side-by-side with our customers and partners to develop solutions that span the entire product lifecycle and address current and future needs,” says Andrea Castella, General Manager for Europe and AMA, ABB Installation Products Division. “Integrating capabilities under one roof streamlines the development process, positioning ABB to anticipate and respond to a dynamic market and growing need for cable management and protection solutions.” The facility features a state-of-the-art lab and equipment to create prototypes and conduct comprehensive assessments, including simulating corrosive and demanding environments and other extreme conditions. The centre is located at the ABB Cable Management Products building in Coleshill.

New lighting range from C.K Tools offers top products

Among a raft of product innovation from C.K Tools, the brand’s all-new lighting range has shone bright, with six new, top-of-the range, IP rated products designed to tackle a multitude of situations for trade professionals, industrial workers and keen DIYers. Inspection lights Three new inspections lights boast robust, durable bodies, supreme battery life, the latest charging technology and ultimate flexibility, whether held, magnetised or hooked to an object, or standing tall on a swivel base. The T4926USB Mini Inspection Light is a hand-held pocket torch, with an 85lm top light and 150lm main light. Perfect for small spaces and precision work, the compact 167x68x25mm tool also boasts a pocket clip (as opposed to the hooks built onto its bigger siblings) and a neat, ergonomic design. The T9427USB Midi, at 199x51x36mm, shines bright with a main light capable of reaching 400lm. It can also be set to 250lm and includes a 360° rotatable hook. This is a must-have, all-purpose inspection light, utilising the very best in LED technology. Meanwhile, the T9428USB Maxi is ready for big jobs, with two hooks and three magnets ready to suspend the torch anywhere, or a swivel base for steady floor placement. It boasts 750lm, 350lm, and 175lm settings on its main light and a 150lm top light. At 268x61x42mm, this is a significant torch representing the best in inspection light technology. Site lights Two new site lights join the top-flight of worksite lighting options, with the T9740 capable of 5000lm, and the T9741 reaching a spectacular 10,000lm. These waterproof, dustproof lights are built for maximum durability in the toughest of environments and will flood any area with light. With battery life reaching up to 120 minutes and colour rendering index to ensure ultimate safety, when working with coloured electrical wire, C.K Tools’ new site lights are soon-to-be essential for safe, hardworking jobsites. Both site lights utilise 18V power tool batteries. With four adaptors included, they are compatible with Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita, Metabo and Bosch batteries, for ultimate convenience. Neck light Finally, the new T9429USB Neck Light is a game-changing piece of kit for close work. A steadier alternative to a head light, it cradles the neck with an ergonomic comfort band and drapes lightly over the shoulders using multi-angle adjustable arms that bend into a secure position. On each arm is a torch and a mode selection switch, allowing varying options for different scenarios. On the back of the comfort band, a tripod mount point and two magnets turn the neck light into a multi-use product, making it an ideal piece of kit for a range of scenarios. It is a lightweight tool that allows freedom of movement, ultimate convenience, and steady, targeted lighting without placing undue pressure and weight on the head and neck. All of the new products in C.K Tools’ lighting range combine the very best of LED technology in a robust and durable package. Designed in collaboration with tradesmen to tackle everyday issues at work, their clever design is the result of the rigorous product development and testing that C.K Tools is known for.

A second chance to win with Martindale Electric

Thanks to the popularity of its 95th anniversary's Spot the Difference competition, Martindale Electric has announced it is uploading a new picture puzzle for entrants to get their teeth into. The new puzzle shows a scene where safe isolation is taking place and entrants are challenged to spot the key differences in the two pictures and bag themselves a prize. Entrants who successfully completed the first competition can enter again to double their chance of winning. “We are celebrating our 95th year and we wanted to have a little more fun with a new picture based on a safe isolation scene. Amazon vouchers and exclusive ‘95th Anniversary’ metal water bottles are up for grabs, so why not have a go and click as many of the differences you can spot?” says Steve Dunning, Martindale Electric’s Managing Director. To enter the competition, simply successfully complete the spot the difference competition below, and you will be entered into the prize draw to win one of three £200 Amazon vouchers or one of 95 Martindale exclusive celebratory metal water bottles. The double wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks cool for 24 hours and warm drinks hot for 12 hours and holds 500ml. The competition closes on 30 November 2023. To enter visit: https://martindale-electric.co.uk/95-years/

Data reveals electricians have the biggest hourly gender pay gap

With the UK requiring a million new tradespeople to keep up with demand over the next decade, Magnet Trade has highlighted the importance of closing the gender pay gap, as the demand for women in the self-employed trade industry increases. Magnet Trade analysed ONS data, and information from The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) to find out exactly where the UK really stands when it comes to the gender pay gap in self-employed trade professions. Electricians have the biggest hourly gender pay gap at £7.97. Magnet Trade’s report reveals self-employed electricians have the biggest hourly gender pay gap with women only charging £18.54 compared to £26.51 for men on average. This means that male electricians earn on average £16,583 more than women in a year. An average electrician's weekly salary according to Hudson Contract is £1,055, which is just over £50,000 a year. Due to an increase in demand for jobs, electricians are able to charge more meaning their wage is above the UK average. Top 10 self-employed trades with the largest gender pay gaps: Ranking Trade Male hourly rates Female hourly rates Hourly gender pay gap 1 Electrician £26.51 £18.54 £7.97 2 Plumbing £25.88 £18.10 £7.78 3 Joinery £25.73 £17.99 £7.74 4 Insulation £24.12 £16.86 £7.25 5 General construction £23.65 £16.54 £7.11 6 Bricklaying £23.37 £16.34 £7.03 7 Painter and decorator £23.31 £16.30 £7.01 8 Steel and timber frame erection £22.19 £15.52 £6.67 9 Surfacing contractors £21.85 £15.28 £6.57 10 Specialist trades £21.60 £15.10 £6.49 Self-employed men earn £700,000 more in a working lifetime compared to women in the same industry. Magnet Trade’s data found that, with women earning 43% less than men in self-employed jobs, estimates show that, for trade jobs, men charge £7 more an hour on average than women. In terms of the hourly rate, on average, this is £23 for self-employed men compared to £16 for women. Across all industry trades, men earn an average of £700K more across a working lifetime compared to women. When looking at just one year, men earn £14K more compared to women in the self-employed trade industry. Therefore, self-employed tradeswomen would have to work five extra months per year to match a man’s salary across trade roles.

ECS passes 50,000 assessments using Remote Invigilation system

More than 50,000 online assessments have now been taken using the Electrotechnical Certifications Scheme’s (ECS) Remote Invigilation system. Initially launched as a pilot for employers in January 2021, the system was designed to address concerns about closures of assessment centres during COVID-19 restrictions. It was expanded for ECS card holders to use later the same year, offering the ECS Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) awareness assessment and technical assessments across fire and security, network infrastructure, electrical safety and building controls. The option to undertake assessments remotely, without having to travel, has proved a popular innovation, as both companies and individuals welcome the greater flexibility and savings on time and money. Candidates have the freedom to complete their assessment, securely and safely, at a time convenient to them, with no programs to download or browser extensions needed. All that is required is a laptop or desktop with a webcam and a stable internet connection. Assessments can be set up and taken as soon as purchased, which provides timely assurance for the employer and client that the minimum standards are in place for health, safety and environmental awareness. As well as being quick and simple to use, the system incorporates AI-powered, behavioural monitoring and verification tools to combat fraudulent behaviour. Updates and upgrades to the system have been ongoing since launch to simplify processes and improve user experience. In addition to on-screen guidance, there is a video available on the ECS website with step-by-step instructions on how to set up and undertake an online assessment. Arthur McKay, a JIB member company and part of the Atalian Servest Group, recently had one of their team sit the 50,000th assessment using Remote Invigilation.

GivEnergy launches adaptive new EV charger

GivEnergy has announced the launch of its adaptive new EV charger, designed to future-proof charging for electric vehicle owners. The product is built with flexibility in mind, allowing for smart charging from the grid, renewable sources and home storage batteries alike. Currently, the EV charger market is dominated by mains-powered devices. However, as domestic solar installations triple and as legislation around carbon emissions tightens, it makes increasing sense for EV drivers to future-proof with solar-compatible chargers. GivEnergy’s EV charger is designed to offer customers flexibility over how they power their vehicles. It can take energy from any preferred source – grid, renewable, or battery power. Customers can then charge their EVs via their chosen source, at their chosen times. Plus, the charger allows customers to take advantage of smart tariffs. For fixed time of use tariffs, customers can set the EV charger to power their vehicle when energy is at its cheapest and greenest. For flexible tariffs, meanwhile, GivEnergy is working with energy providers to create a direct API integration with the EV charger. So, this will mean that inbuilt algorithms prime the system to automatically take advantage of cheap rates, as and when prices drop. "We are thrilled to be launching our new EV charger," says GivEnergy's CEO, Jason Howlett. "We’re on a mission to empower energy freedom for all, and we believe that this charger will make it more convenient than ever for customers to charge cleanly and cheaply. “This is a new product at the cutting edge of energy tech. So, the product will only get better and more intuitive over time. “Whether you’ve got a full renewable setup complete with a storage battery, whether you’re grid powered, or whether you’re somewhere in between, the GivEnergy EV charger is designed to make going electric easy. Plus, its ability to draw power from storage batteries allows drivers to charge their vehicles when the grid is down. So, even those who live in areas prone to power outages can keep their lives in motion.” The new EV charger from GivEnergy is easy to install, highly efficient and built to last. And with its accessible price point, customers aren’t priced out of clean, future-proofed EV charging. Stock is now available from the first GivEnergy wholesalers around the UK.

CU Phosco Lighting improves traditional lighting range

CU Phosco Lighting has announced a number of improvements to its traditional lighting range, including enhanced lumen performance, superior efficacy and lighting quality. The range, ideal for retrofit lighting or projects that needs a traditional-style lantern with the latest LED technology for optimal energy savings, promises to be its most cost-effective to date. Lowering the cost of heritage lighting In celebration of its recent centenary celebrations, the technical team at CU Phosco Lighting looked to re-engineer the range to offer improved performance and cost-savings. Technical Manager, Paul Carter, comments, “CU Phosco Lighting has been a trusted brand for over 100 years, but are aware we’re more traditionally associated with functional streetlighting, floodlighting and high masts. With the improvements to our traditional lighting range, we hope that specifiers see our heritage luminaires as a viable alternative. We believe that the enhancements we’ve made mean that our lanterns are more cost-effective, both in terms of initial investment and whole life cost, including maintenance. This offers obvious benefits to both clients and end-users." Warmer colour temperatures down to 2200K have been integrated into its light engines. This addition offers a smoother transition from the traditional low-pressure sodium (SOX) lamps typically associated with heritage lanterns and responds to the market's shift toward warmer colour temperatures. Fourth generation LEDs Now in its fourth iteration, CU Phosco Lighting light engines offer improved energy efficiency, which played a crucial role in the relaunch, resulting in the upgraded luminaires now achieving up to 172 lumens per watt. This represents a remarkable 30% increase compared to the existing options and also means schemes could benefit from increased column spacing. Upward light A number of CU Phosco Lighting’s products have recently been International Dark Sky approved, so in line with this commitment to responsible outdoor lighting, the heritage lighting range features reduced upward light and a glare rating of up to G3. Certain optics and lantern powers being Dark Sky compliant.

How electricians can leverage social media to promote their business

New research by BigChange has revealed that nearly a third of Brits (27%) have selected a tradesperson or business because of their social media presence, which means business owners should be considering social media more than ever before. Nearly 40% of Gen Z are now using TikTok or Instagram as their primary search engine over Google, and it’s clear to see that consumers' search habits are changing. To support trade professionals looking to benefit from the power of social media, Daniel Briggs, Director of Digital Marketing at BigChange, shares the do’s and don’ts of utilising social media to build their online reputation and win new business. The three do’s  Do place an emphasis on brand personality Having a strong brand personality is vital in today’s market and if your business is easily recognisable, and your social media activity is visually appealing, you’ll be more likely to stand out. Daniel advises, “Once you’ve defined what you want your brand personality to be, make sure you stay consistent. “Regular updates on social media in a specific tone of voice will help you stand out, whilst becoming recognisable within your trade. Although it’s good to have a wide variety of content to reach different audiences, make sure it all has a common theme and design element running throughout so it’s instantly recognisable that it’s from your company.” 2. Do put a focus on your brands reputation  Reputation is closely connected to your brand’s personality. By using social media, you are able to quickly deal with any problems or complaints and resolve them efficiently. Daniel comments, “Reviews and positive engagement on social media will help to keep your reputation high. Responding to reviews and comments, both positive and negative, in a professional manner will paint your business in the best light. “You should try to check your notifications and direct messages at least once a day, so you can respond to any time-sensitive queries. The more people know about the good work you do, the more likely they are to use your business.” Do check out competitors in your industry  With so many businesses now using social media to interact with customers, showcase their work, and post regular updates, this is the perfect way to see what your competition is up to and make sure you’re staying ahead of the curve. Daniel suggests, “Regularly check out your direct competitors' posts, reviews and customer interactions to see how they operate and use this insight as inspiration to identify what you’re missing or could be doing more of.” The three don'ts  Don’t merge your personal and business social media If your business is new to social media then ensure you create a business account that is separate from your personal account. Daniel explains, “Not only will this help you maintain privacy, but it will also make it much easier for new customers to find your business and a separate business page will appear more trustworthy to potential new customers. It’s important to act professionally online when representing a brand and to only share work-appropriate information on your social profiles to help gain your audience’s trust. “On platforms such as Instagram and LinkedIn, business accounts also have more advanced features meaning a business page may be easier to grow and promote, and an added benefit is that you can easily give co-workers access should they need it in the future.” 2. Don’t feel the pressure to commit to every social media platform  Consider which social platforms your target audience uses and which platforms you’re the most comfortable using and put your effort into those, rather than spreading yourself too thinly across multiple platforms. Daniel advises, “Committing to just one or two platforms will enable you to stay consistent with your posting schedule and to keep on top of any messages or questions on each platform. It will also give you more time to think about posts and ensure you are only sharing top quality content.” Don’t be too promotional Think about what kind of content your followers will want to engage with. Instead of focusing entirely on promoting your business, share posts that will provide value to your audience. Daniel concludes, “Of course if your business has great updates or announcements to share, like deals, or new offerings then sharing these on social media is a good idea. However you can diversify your content and avoid being overly promotional by sharing educational videos or expert tips.”

New smart thermostat added to ESP’s Sangamo range

ESP has added a smart thermostat to its Sangamo heating controls range, offering installers the opportunity to easily add a smart control function to their customers’ home heating. As more and more households are seeing the benefit of smart devices to control various elements in the home, so the demand for smart controls that can help with energy saving in particular is on the increase. The Sangamo Wi-Fi controlled thermostat allows you to control and monitor the room temperature and thermostat activity from anywhere in the world, via a smart phone or tablet. It is controlled through the subscription-free ClickSmart+ app from Scolmore, which offers users control of a raft of connected home and security products all from one secure, easy to access platform. The Sangamo smart thermostat offers energy efficient programming and with remote access via the app, it allows for constant monitoring and control at your fingertips. It can be voice controlled through Alexa and Google Assistant. It has been designed to be straightforward to install and operate and is suitable for electric, gas or oil systems. A boiler can be controlled either by wiring into the Sangamo thermostat or the thermostat’s receiver, giving full installation flexibility. Key features of the thermostat that will help with the control of energy usage include the optimal start function and the open window/door detection feature. Optimal start function: This ensures that the optimum temperature conditions are achieved at the required times. The boiler is gradually fired as the set time approached, as opposed to large inefficient surges and demand for heat at the scheduled time. This energy efficiency feature adjusts the start time of the heating system depending upon how cold it is. For example, on cold days the heating system will be started earlier to ensure the home is warm at the scheduled time and on warmer days the heating system will be started later to save energy. Open window/door detection: This uses sudden changes in temperature to detect if a window is open and switches off for a while to save energy. For example, if the room temperature drops significantly within three minutes the thermostat will stop a call for heat. The thermostat will then resume the call for heat, if either the temperature recovers, or 30 minutes elapses. Available in a white finish, the smart thermostat has a slimline, contemporary design, with touch button for manual control and a clear LED display. It features a keylock facility to avoid any buttons being pressed accidentally or by children. It comes complete with table stand or wall mount option. The Sangamo thermostat combines Wi-Fi smart control, seven-day scheduling automation and optimisation to assist boiler plus compliant requirements.