CMD launches 48-hour turnaround on Betatrak rapid ordering service

CMD has launched a rapid ordering service for its Betatrak underfloor powertrack distribution systems and accessories, with a commitment to delivering within 48-hours of an approved purchase order. The service enables customers to order up to 50 lengths of Standard or Clean Earth (C/E) low noise Betatrak, along with up to 25 feed units and 10 flexible corner kits, and includes delivery scheduling to a nominated address. The new service comes as the construction sector continues to grapple with supply chain challenges and extended lead times, with many electrical installations stalling due to product delays. Stephen Roberts, Head of Sales at CMD explains: “Many projects are still catching up due to the pandemic and often new projects have a rapid start on site, so electrical contractors need product quickly. Our goal is always to work in partnership with electrical wholesalers and contractors to help them overcome challenges – we do that through market-focused product development but also by tailoring our service around our customers’ operational needs. “As a UK manufacturer with plenty of stockholding capacity, CMD is able to offer this new 48-hour service and we are certain that it will provide a lifeline to contractors who might otherwise have to face costly delays while waiting for powertrack.” The new 48-hour service means that purchase orders received before 12pm Monday - Friday will be scheduled for same day dispatch, while those received after 12pm will be dispatched the following day. All standard lengths of Standard and Clean Earth (C/E) low noise Betatrak are included in the 48-hour commitment, but there is a minimum order quantity of 10 lengths when ordering 3.6m lengths of Betatrak. CMD will process purchase orders for the rapid service in the order in which they are received, and the 48-hour service level commitment is only valid for one purchase order per customer within any 48-hour period. “We have been very focused on ensuring that we offer a fair and transparent rapid service when developing this 48-hour service level agreement,” Stephen adds, “because the idea is that we support all customers, no matter where they may be located, how long they have been a customer, or what volume of product they have bought from us in the past. “All we require is that customers complete an authorised purchase order, abide by the maximum order quantities and either have an active, in credit account, or cleared funds with us.” CMD is thought to be the first power distribution manufacturer to offer a 48-hour turnaround on a powertrack system, which is increasingly the system of choice for commercial installations. The company’s power distribution range also includes the CMD Power Hub system, which provides an alternative to Betatrak for buildings where the floor void is limited or uneven. Stephen adds: “Betatrak has been designed to be fast and simple to install and, with this new rapid service it’s also fast and simple to procure too.”

New and improved Inceptor Nano V2 from Ovia

Ovia has taken its popular Inceptor Nano fire-rated, dimmable downlight and made a number of significant improvements to enhance its overall performance. New Inceptor Nano V2 is a compact, fire-rated, dimmable downlight, which packs an array of features into its shallow profile. Its powerful SMD light source, paired with a 60⁰ multi-faceted, Halogen-effect lens, produces exceptional light quality. The lumen output has been increased to 93LM/W Warm White and 103LM/W Cool White - and it offers 35,000 hours lifetime. There are two Nano V2 models - Fixed and Adjustable. The Adjustable version allows the luminaire to be moved and directed to where light is needed. Both feature a compact, high-powered driver which is suitable for installation in a fire rated ceiling. Nano V2 Fixed is designed for a 60mm cut out and has a fitting depth of 50mm, while the Adjustable version is designed for a 75mm cut out and has a fitting depth of 54mm. Both feature the Flow Connector, the pre-wired connection system that speeds up installation and allows faster removal for testing and replacement of components. Inceptor Nano V2 offers a 30, 60, and 90 minute fire rating, and is acoustic and airflow compliant. There are 12 Inceptor Nano V2 products in the range, with both the Fixed and Adjustable Bezel designs available in three finishes - White, Chrome and Satin Chrome - and in two colour temperatures - Warm White and Cool White. With an ingress protection rating of IP65 for the Fixed bezel and IP54 for the Adjustable, they are both suitable for use in situations where moisture and low pressure water jets are a factor such as kitchen, bathroom and wet room installations. Available separately is an insulation support bracket. This has been developed to allow installers to lay thermal insulation directly over the top of the Inceptor Nano V2. The removable bracket creates a 20mm air space above the driver to allow air to circulate and cool. Competitively-priced, the high-performance Nano V2 5.5W LED downlight is suitable for a variety of domestic applications.  It is supplied with a five year warranty as standard.

Aico and CEF sign up with the Electrical Industries Charity

Aico and CEF are delighted to have signed up to the Commercial Agreement programme with the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC), this is a new initiative in the industry which gives Commercial Agreement partners the opportunity to commit a small donation from a product, product range or service sold. The EIC is more than 100 years old and offers support to those who work in the electrical industry and their families who encounter family or relationship problems, financial or legal worries, emotional or mental health problems and ill health or disability. Aico, the European Market Leader in Home Life Safety strive to create safer communities in every action that they take through their Corporate Social Responsibility programme, Aico in the Community. This is the latest collaboration between the EIC and the market leader, who are also EIC Champions and have four trained colleagues within the EIC Mental Health First Aider programme. Aico have always tried to diversify their fundraising strategies, with two full time Community Liaisons who work to strengthen all aspects of Aico’s relationship with the local community, including charities. This pledge from Aico alongside CEF is the latest initiative to increase support to those who need it most. Aico’s Managing Director, Neal Hooper, comments on the partnership “We both recognised the need to diversify fundraising for the Charity because of the pandemic. In person events are incredible fundraisers but that revenue stream was taken away, so it came down to what else can we do? While business was still being done, and trade if anything was on the up, it seemed only right to try and give the Charity what we can. CEF is the second largest distributor in the UK, Aico is the third largest manufacturer in the UK, so a simple way we can give back is by doing business.” CEF’s Commercial Director, Andrew Moseley, adds “We had previously raised money through product sales for the EIC and it worked really well. It meant we were creating meaningful sums of money for the charity without changing what we do as a business. For a company like ours it makes fundraising easy. We can support our entire industry by conducting our business. The promotion is about ensuring the EIC receives the support it needs from the people who use the services.”

simPRO signs up as a Founding Member of SELECT’s new Associate Membership Scheme

simPRO has become one of the first Associate Members of SELECT, Scotland’s largest construction trade association. simPRO was at the head of the queue to sign up to the new Associate Membership scheme launched by the campaigning trade body for the electrical sector in Scotland. As well as being eligible for a wide range of benefits, Associate Membership will also allow simPRO to build beneficial relationships with SELECT’s 1,260 member businesses, who between them have an annual turnover of around £1 billion. Iain Mason, director of Membership & Communications at SELECT, says: “We are delighted that a company of simPRO’s prestige and reputation has been so keen to join our new scheme, which is aimed squarely at encouraging partnerships that will benefit the whole electrical industry. “Designed to accommodate organisations who don’t meet the usual criteria of membership, our new scheme will give some of the industry’s biggest names the opportunity to ally themselves with an established and successful trade body. “At the same time it will allow us to build stronger relationships with organisations that can offer relevant and useful services to our members.” Steven Crake, simPRO’s UK Mid Market sales manager comments: “We are proud to be associated with SELECT, an organisation which shares many of our values, as well as our dedication to skills, quality and technical expertise. “SELECT has been serving its member companies well for more than a century and has a richly-deserved reputation for being ahead of the curve when it comes to technical innovation, members’ interests and meaningful communication. “We hope to be able to expand and develop our relationship with SELECT’s 1,260 member companies in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration.” The SELECT scheme, which was formally launched on 1 January, is open to service providers, manufacturers and any other commercial organisations related to the electrical industry. These professionals do not have to be UK-based and may have a European or international remit. Among the benefits are a prominent logo and biography on a dedicated section of the SELECT website, networking and promotional opportunities, the chance to host webinars and events and the ability to promote goods and services via a wide range of member communications. Associate Members will also be eligible for preferential discounts on advertising, sponsorship and events, including the association’s popular Toolbox Talk roadshows, which are due to tour Scotland in May and June after a two-year absence. Mason adds: “SELECT has always been a strong advocate of collaboration and cooperation within the construction sector and we believe this new initiative will allow our existing members and new Associate Members like simPRO to enhance and expand their networks to everyone’s benefit.”

ECA calls on Government to ‘rebalance', avoiding a cost-of-living crisis

ECA has responded to Ofgem’s announcement that the energy price cap will rise by 54% to £1,971. ECA welcomes Rishi Sunak’s action to help taper the price rise by supporting middle- and lower-income households, but this is simply not enough. Government must urgently address the inequalities between gas and electricity levies, and reduce our reliance on imported natural gas from countries such as Russia. ECA Energy Solutions Advisor Luke Osborne says: “The severity of today’s announced energy price hike, and the threat this poses to millions of families across the country, can be remedied if the political will is there. While Rishi Sunak’s proposals will provide some respite for 80% of UK households, this will only be temporary. Longer-term plans must be put in place to truly mitigate the cost-of-living crisis. “Inequalities in the UK taxation system mean electricity is expensive and gas is cheap. Currently, electricity prices per KWh are around 4 times higher than gas. In the past, when electricity was more carbon intensive, this approach might have been logical. “But renewable electricity generation is now cleaner than gas and projected to emit only half of the emissions resulting from heating from fossil fuels by 20251. The outdated levy structure does not reflect this. “We are calling on government to urgently address the inequalities between gas and electricity levies to reflect the falling carbon intensity of electricity. This single move will have the effect of reducing fuel poverty, be good for business and crucially good for the environment.” Currently, 23% of household electricity bills go towards social and environmental policies, while only 3% of gas bills go towards these. Reducing levies on electricity will have the added effect of reducing our national dependency on imported natural gas. This will prevent further exposure to volatility in global markets, making our energy prices less vulnerable to price spikes. It would also make us less reliant on supplies from other countries, such as Russia. ECA has also recently called on Government to reduce VAT on battery storage systems, solar panels, and heat pumps, to encourage uptake and make it even more cost-effective for households to make the switch to these technologies and feel the benefits of reduced energy bills in the long run. ECA works closely with industry and Government to influence the development of energy-related policy, including the drive to Net Zero. It promotes energy efficiency, renewable power, and the development of battery storage as a means to promote lower costs and greater energy security.

Electricians rank in the top five paid trades across the UK

There has been a massive shortage of skilled trade workers across the UK, leaving the demand for trade jobs incredibly high. Brits have spent £110bn on home improvements during the coronavirus pandemic, standing at £2,000 per person for home renovations - creating a high demand for tradespeople with electrical and construction skills. With this in mind the business comparison experts at Bionic have created a UK Trade Index to help support the growing local trade economy - and electricians rank in the top five paid trades in the UK. The Bionic trade index looked at 10 of the highest populated cities in the UK outside of London, to find the trade jobs available and the average salary per trade in each city. London was omitted from the index to avoid skewing the results because of the sheer size and density of the capital’s population. Building and construction roles receive the highest average annual salary for trades in the UK - with electricians ranking up to £35,141 Ranking Job Role City Salary 1 Bricklayers Bristol £38,775 2 Plasterer Birmingham £37,765 3 Carpenter Leicester £36,582 4 Handyman Bristol £35,451 5 Electrician Glasgow £35,141 6 Mechanic Bristol £34,739 7 Plumbing Coventry £33,993 8 Painter & Decorator Coventry £33,859 9 Builder Bristol £31,300 10 Scaffolder Bristol £31,300 Electricians rank in fifth place with an average salary of £35,141 with the highest salary being in Glasgow. There are currently a whopping 2,603 jobs available for electricians in the UK and the highest available jobs in Birmingham, with 374 electricians needed! Electricians in particular are in high demand, from domestic to maintenance electricians that make sure all technology and systems run smoothly. Building and construction trades have the highest number of trade job vacancies, with the highest volumes of these being in Birmingham (2,825). However, Bristol offers the highest average paid salaries for all construction trades analysed, sitting at £33,266. Despite a growing need and availability for roles in building and construction, there is still a substantial gender pay gap of up to £18,250, between men and women. Chief Customer Officer, Glyn Britton, at Bionic, has rounded up five top tips into what businesses can do to bridge this gender pay gap: “While there is no quick fix to the gender pay gap - businesses can look to actioning the below top five tips to make sure they’re offering equal opportunities, appropriate maternity and paternity support” Include multiple women in shortlists for recruitment and promotions When putting together a candidate shortlist of qualified applicants for advertised roles, make sure that more than one woman is included with this shortlist. It also helps if your advertisement is promoted on platforms that are used by a high percentage of both women and men. Use structured interviews Use structured interviews when recruiting for new starters and for promotions, as this can help rule out unfair practices and unconscious bias that can influence the process. For example, ask the same questions of all candidates and mark the responses with a pre-specified format. Map out salary ranges against each job title Some women can be hesitant about negotiating their pay as they don't know what their salary potential is when starting a job. So employers should show salary bands against each job description so women can visualise potential salary earnings. Offer shared parental leave When women have children, the gender pay gap widens massively. Employers can help by sharing parental leave to reduce this pay gap. Shared parental leave means both parents can share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay. Be open about the process and the criteria for decision making process behind a jobs and promotions Be transparent about pay and promotions so employees know what is involved and others can then review decisions made in the workplace. This can help reduce the gender pay gap and make promotions and pay as fair as possible.

‘Scourge’ of outdated payments systems keep the industry in the Victorian age

Construction professionals are still suffering the “scourge” of a Victorian era payments system that was brought in to stop cowboy railway builders doing a runner, the Managing Director of electrical trade association SELECT has told national radio. Speaking on the Clive Holland Show on Fix Radio this week, Alan Wilson said it was time to do away with the outdated system of retentions, in which money is often unfairly held back from sub-contractors under the premise of completing work satisfactorily. And he told the UK’s radio station for tradespeople that SELECT would continue to campaign for the system to be replaced and help remove uncertainty for business. Mr Wilson comments: “Retention is a very outdated model, set up in the Victorian era and the dawn of the railways when unscrupulous contractors were building routes. When they turned a corner that went round a hill, they suddenly stopped building the railway and scooted off with the cash that they’d been paid. So that's where it started from and yet 150 to 200 years later, we’ve still got it. “In this day and age, if you want to have a proper relationship with someone in business, is it really the right thing to say: Well, I've got your price. I'm going to get you to do all this work for me, but I don't trust you enough to pay you all that money so I'm going to keep it back just in case you don't do things right?” Mr Wilson said clients need to have proper relationships with contractors, with good examples including integrated project alliances, where project owners and contractors sign up to a single contract, with conditions that stipulate and incentivise shared responsibility. He says: “Clients need to be grown up and to trust contractors; they need to engage properly with them and set up proper agreements. And hopefully, that will see away with the scourge of retentions.” Speaking on the show on Tuesday 1 February, Mr Wilson also advised contractors to keep on top of their debts, adding: “If you're not paid one month, then you need to make sure the client pays you for that before you progress with additional works. “Staged payments are definitely a good way forward. Get paid for the work you've done, get that money in your bank account. Make sure you put bills in on time. Make sure your paperwork’s up to date – keep proper records.” On late payment, Mr Wilson said payment terms – when and how often payment will be made – should be the first thing a contractor looks at before they price a contract. “Look at the payment conditions first in any contract and make sure you follow up everything in writing,” he says. “If someone asks you to do additional work on site, note it down in a triplicate pad and ask the client to sign it.” SELECT has been pressing the Scottish Government to introduce a system where retention monies are put into a trust in the short term and do away with the system completely in the longer term. The Scottish Government says its ambition is to see a “significant reduction” in the use of retentions in construction contracts, with alternative mechanisms in place to ensure “high quality delivery and contract compliance”. In January 2021, it set up a short life working group on cash retention under construction contracts to consider options, including an outright ban. The group’s recommendations, published in July 2021, favour a custodial model which holds retention payments in an independently run, protected deposit scheme for the period of the construction contract and delivers automatic payment. The group also recommended that, by the end of January 2022, the Scottish Government should publish a retention best practice policy note for contracting organisations. Its requirements would include that organisations withholding cash retentions should not repay payments late or partially, without “full and clearly articulated” justification.

Powercor partners with SATRO in school Energy Saving Challenge

Powercor has partnered with Surrey-based STEM charity SATRO for the 2022 SATRO Energy Saving Challenge – an opportunity to put students at the heart of their school’s sustainability thinking and to see how they can reduce carbon emissions. The six-month challenge encourages school children to develop and implement ideas that reduce electricity usage in their schools. The ideas will be judged and the winning school announced at a ceremony in June 2022. 12 primary schools based in the South East are taking part in the programme this year. Central to the Energy Saving Challenge are Powercor’s automated metering and targeting (AM&T), units that will be installed free of charge at each school. The units deliver the capability to monitor energy use, and produce data charts and graphs that the children can review. As each energy-saving strategy is implemented, students can see how this affects the energy usage in their school. Examples of energy measurement software output: Starting with a sustainability workshop, SATRO are supporting each school as they go through the process of understanding their energy usage and how to assess the impact of any changes made. The challenge will help students understand how they can be more energy conscious and make real savings to energy bills. The savings can then be reinvested in the school, including equipment to further enhance sustainability. Anne Edward, Managing Director of SATRO comments: “It is great to work with the schools and partner with a local company in the South East such as Powercor who have agreed to install the meters free of charge within the schools. This provides a demonstrable way for the school children to see and understand how energy is used within their environments and to think consciously about how an organisation can be more energy efficient. The students are throwing themselves into the programme and are learning a lot from taking part.” Alongside SATRO, Powercor provides advice and information to schools that are keen to explore how they can reduce not only their energy bills but also their carbon footprint and further boost their sustainability journey. Chris Wright, Technical Director, says: “Working with SATRO enables us to educate children about how energy can be saved through behaviour change and how different types of lighting and electrical installations make a difference. The students are often surprised how small actions can lead to significant savings in their school’s energy costs.” Through its new education sustainability brand, Energycation, Powercor is keen to help the education sector understand energy efficiency and play a part in encouraging young people to explore a STEM future. As part of this, Powercor is supporting and attending SATROfest in March 2022 where they will be explaining to students the role of electrical engineers.

Industry unites to call for safety for residents of high-rise residential buildings

Four of the UK’s leading electrical organisations have joined forces to urge political leaders to ensure parity of safety for residents of high-rise residential buildings (HRRBs) by mandating electrical safety checks of the electrical installation in dwellings of all tenures within these buildings. Industry Stakeholder forum, the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR), charity Electrical Safety First (ESF) and Government authorised electrical Competent Person Scheme Operators NAPIT, and NICEIC have collaborated in a call for action. In England, an electrical source of ignition is responsible for 53% of all accidental dwelling fires. Despite the dangers posed by electrical installations, the Building Safety Bill in its current form does not address the disparity of electrical safety standards among residents of differing tenures within HRRBs in England. The nature of HRRBs means that the safety of an electrical installation in one dwelling has the potential to have a life changing impact on multiple other dwellings nearby. This is due to the high possibility of fire spreading. Whilst this issue is receiving political attention and support from MPs, there has been no confirmation from the Government that meaningful change will occur, particularly in leasehold properties where the risk of faulty electrical installations does not disappear. The four organisations are calling for the government to: Amend the Building Safety Bill to require all social rented and leaseholder dwellings in HRRBs to have an electrical safety check carried out on the electrical installation at least once every five years by a qualified and competent electrical contractor. Mike Andrews, Chief Executive of NAPIT Group comments: "NAPIT is committed to enhancing electrical safety standards throughout the UK. The electrical industry has united to highlight the inconsistency in monitoring and managing electrical safety in High-Rise Residential Buildings and calls on the Government to consider the impact of not acting to resolve this. Residents’ safety is paramount and requiring all dwellings within High-Rise Residential Buildings to be subject to the same electrical safety inspection and testing regime is crucial to parity of safety for all." Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First, adds: "Everyone living in a multi-occupancy block can be at risk from a single incident, so it is essential that they are all protected by the highest safety standards. The level of protection should not depend on tenure. The Building Safety Bill provides the opportunity to improve the safety of hundreds of thousands of people who live in high rise buildings. With electricity causing around half of all domestic fires each year, we urge the Government to take action to introduce regular electrical checks for all residents regardless of tenure. Fire does not discriminate, and neither should safety legislation." Chris Pack, Chair of the Electrical Safety Roundtable in the Home Group remarks: "Improving electrical safety in the home is our passion. There is no doubt that poorly maintained electrical wiring systems are a major cause of fire. While privately rented dwellings require an electrical safety check at least once every five years, the same requirement for social rented and leaseholder owned properties does not exist. In High-Rise Residential Buildings where privately rented, social rented and leaseholder owned properties can exist side by side, only the private rented properties are subject to periodic mandatory electrical safety checks. This is illogical given the proximity of properties and the increased likelihood of fire spreading. This disparity between property types must be addressed by Government urgently to improve electrical safety and to provide residents living in these buildings confidence in the knowledge that their safety is of the highest priority." John O’Neill, Director of Technical Services, NICEIC says: "The electrical safety of all tenants is an absolute priority, and the requirement for mandatory checks should not come down to a question of tenure. This is especially true when dealing with High-Rise Residential Buildings where the outcomes could be far more devastating should something go wrong. So today, we are joining forces with others to urge the Government to end the tenure lottery around electrical safety in High-Rise Residential Buildings."

Calling all NICEIC and ELECSA Contractors

NICEIC has announced a series of events designed to ensure their 38,000 registrants are first in line when it comes to receiving details relating to Amendment 2 of BS 7671:2018 (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022). Timed to coincide with the release of the 2nd Amendment, the CPD Certified events will be offered free and exclusive to NICEIC and ELECSA contractors as part of their registration. Delivering both face-to-face and virtual options, the UK’s largest certification body for the building services industry, aims to provide the right information at the right time in a manner to suit all. Events will include two live ‘special broadcasts’ of NICEIC’s hit technical webinar series THE WIRE and 31 face-to-face regional activities where contractors will be invited to view the broadcast alongside their peers, NICEIC Assessors and Technical Experts. For those unable to tune into the live events, recordings of the session will also be available via NICEIC’s THE WIRE on – demand. “March 28th is set to be a big day for our industry as the IET release the eagerly awaited 2nd Amendment to BS 7671:2018.” says NICEIC’s Technical Director, John O’Neill. “As with all updates to the Wiring Regulations, the detail is crucial, and we are absolutely committed to supporting our customers to help them stay abreast of these important changes. We will not speculate beforehand on what might be included; instead, we will focus delivering the facts as soon as they are confirmed.” Commenting on the details of the planned events NICEIC’s Marketing and Events Manager, Sarah Hunter adds: “We are offering our customers a variety of options designed to suit their individual needs. “Thanks to its new and improved web-based platform, THE WIRE is now easier to access than ever before.  Operating seamlessly across mobile, tablet and laptop devices contractors are able to tune in from a location of their choosing. “For those who prefer face-to-face interaction, our regional evening events will provide a friendly, laid-back environment where contractors can learn about the update alongside their peers and local NICEIC experts. “Registration is now open via our website and I urge all NICEIC and ELECSA contractors to take advantage of these free, easy to access, high quality events.”