London revealed to be the best city in the UK for tradespeople

With the inevitable rise of Britons looking to renovate or 'fix up' their home, Google search volumes show a huge 138,700 people per month searching for plumbers and electricians to repair and renovate their homes. Over 50,000 of these searches came from people located in the capital, suggesting London is the best place to work as a plumber or electrician, due to the city's number of call out opportunities. According to findings by UK “on-demand call answering customer services” group alldayPA, London has been revealed to be the number one city for tradespeople to work across the UK. In second place was Birmingham (20,350 searches per month), followed by Glasgow, with (15,400 searches per month), Bristol (14,050 searches per month) and Edinburgh (13,600 searches per month). The data experts found that these locations give tradespeople the opportunity to earn well over an average salary each year. Through these findings, alldayPA has pinpointed which locations plumbers and electricians would benefit from relocating to if they want to expand their business or want to increase their salaries. The average UK tradesperson could earn an average annual salary of between £27,572 and £40,671, simply based on their location. Best cities for plumbers and electricians to work in the UK:  London - For an electrician working in London the average salary is £40,671, and plumber is £36,504 Birmingham - For an electrician working in Birmingham the average salary is £33,555 and plumber is £30,609 Glasgow - For an electrician working in Glasgow is £35,132, and plumber is £33,995 Bristol - For an electrician working in Bristol the average salary is £34,732, and plumber is £31,007 Edinburgh - For an electrician working in Edinburgh the average salary for an electrician is £33,580 and plumber is £35,360 Nottingham - For an electrician working in Nottingham the average salary for an electrician is £31,430, and plumber is £29,827 Cardiff - For an electrician working in Cardiff the average salary for an electrician is £33,753, and plumber is £27,572 Manchester - For an electrician working in Manchester the average salary for an electrician is £31,338, and plumber is £31,337 Liverpool - For an electrician working in Liverpool the average salary for an electrician is £32,960, and plumber is £30,520 Leeds - For an electrician working in Leeds the average salary for an electrician is £30,984, and plumber is £33,744 The average salary has increased by 29.54% and 14.41% since 2009 for plumbers and electricians. Data analysts at alldayPA have seen how these trades have been in demand since the start of the pandemic as many home and business owners have looked into renovating their homes or office spaces. Over half of search queries (67.45%) were for emergencies and almost a third (32.55%) for non-emergency calls, and the Customer Service team have been able to share the most common questions asked by customers on plumbing and electrical-related callouts. alldayPA Head of Customer Services Gareth Jeffery comments on why alldayPA wanted to help tradespeople: "We wanted to share some data insights with the newly qualified tradespeople, and in fact, anyone looking at starting their own electricity or plumbing business in the UK at this time. The data reveals some of the best locations across the UK for new businesses to flourish and grow. London, Birmingham and Glasgow are some of the best cities for young people to kick start their careers, but so are Manchester-based businesses. We can see a lot of great opportunities across the North West."

Legrand lights up the market with new smart control system

The new Arteor with Netatmo connected home system has been launched by Legrand, providing an elegant connected living solution for enhanced comfort and security in the connected home. Combining innovative Netatmo technology with Legrand’s elegant and modular Arteor wiring accessories, the new system transforms lighting, blinds, curtains and electrical components into connected devices. The Arteor with Netatmo system can integrate with the surrounding furnishings thanks to the 17 different finishes available – one of the largest selections on the UK market. The solution communicates via radio, meaning connection is simple, meaning there is no need for extensive cabling. The new system allows end users to control the connected components locally and through their smartphone or tablet via the Home + Control app. It can also be voice controlled and is compatible with Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple’s full HomeKit software. The solution also includes smart alerts which keep end users informed on what is switched on or off, as well as when there is a power failure – both to a specific device or the whole home. Lighting scenarios can be programmed with ease to meet the individual needs, which ultimately simplify the end user’s daily life. Arteor with Netatmo also allows connected sockets to be installed, which enables users to control any type of electrical appliance from their smart device. For the end-user, the technology means energy consumption can be monitored via the app, helping to provide long-term savings. Richard Hopkins, Lead Marketing Manager at Legrand UK & Ireland, says: “Arteor with Netatmo is a fantastic addition to our smart home offering and opens up greater technology to a larger audience of installers and home owners. The elegant, simple and intuitive connected home system is available for retrospective builds, while its competitive pricing makes it ideal for those looking for a cost-effective approach to smart technology. “Our easy-to-use Home + Control app makes it simple for installers to show how the system can transform end users’ lives. The app also provides a range of added insights, including energy consumption data, which all helps to equip users with greater control of their energy use.” Simplicity is at the core of Arteor with Netatmo. Consisting of a few components, a gateway pack is installed before connected controls are added. Once complete, the wired products are then paired with wireless switches via the Zigbee 2.4 Ghz waveband, before automatically connecting to the Home + Control app. The wired products are installed in the same way as conventional components, meaning additional training – often associated with other products on the market – is not required. Richard comments: “There is no doubting that interest in the connected home is rising, particularly as much of the country continues to spend more time in their home. For this reason, Arteor with Netatmo is set to play an important role in the future home. For electrical contractors, it allows smart home applications to be added to their services, if they haven’t already.

ERA sets its sights on 100 mile charity cycling challenge

West Midlands based home security provider, ERA, is taking part in a 100 mile bike ride this summer to raise vital funds for its nominated charity in 2021, Hope House Children’s Hospices. Taking place on Sunday 8 August 2021, ERA employees, including Helen Downer, President of ERA’s parent company Tyman UK and Ireland, will be joining many other businesses across the UK as they take to their saddles for the ‘GMF 100’ Cycling Challenge. Starting and finishing at ERA’s headquarters at the i54 business park in Wolverhampton, the team will cycle a total of 100 miles between them throughout the day to raise vital funds for Hope House. The charity supports over 750 families throughout Shropshire, Cheshire, Mid and North Wales, providing palliative care for children with life‐limiting conditions. With over 95% of Hope House’s annual costs met through charitable donations, it relies heavily on the contributions from fundraising events such as the ‘GMF 100’ Cycling Challenge to carry out its essential work. Helen comments: “We are extremely proud to be supporting Hope House Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospices for a second consecutive year and its fantastic to see the industry unite to raise much needed funds for such an important cause. “Last year, I was set to take part in the charity’s Peak, Paddle, Pedal team fundraising event, which was unfortunately postponed, so the team and I are really looking forward to taking on this challenge, in addition to many others throughout 2021, to raise as much money as possible for the charity.” ERA supports a charity voted for by its employees each year, which has previously included Alzheimer’s Research UK and Midlands Air Ambulance. With many of its fundraising activities put on hold last year due to the pandemic, ERA made the conscious decision to select Hope House as its nominated charity for a second year running.

ECA urges careful planning amid ongoing materials shortage 

The ECA is urging its members, as well as the wider industry, to continue to exercise caution and plan as far ahead as possible on projects involving cable management systems (CMS). This comes after manufacturers' body BEAMA recently warned that long lead times for CMS supplies are expected to continue into Q1 of 2022, coupled with increasing raw material costs. Factors cited to be behind the ongoing supply problems include shipping and shortages of timber and cardboard, which are affecting packaging. ECA CEO Steve Bratt comments: “Extra care should be taken when planning projects, and with project costings. For many, ongoing delays in the availability of some cable management system materials will continue to have a negative impact on cost and completion time. "With this in mind, our advice to the industry is to order your CMS materials in good time to ensure you can finish as planned. ECA will keep members informed as the situation develops.” ECA recently held an exclusive webinar with the Electrical Distributors Association (EDA) and BEAMA examining the impact of the materials shortage on the electrical sector. The full session recording can be viewed here. Rob Driscoll, ECA Director of Legal and Business, comments: “Following the impact of coronavirus, the Suez Canal incident, and Brexit, we have seen demand rocket in an environment of restricted supply. As feared, margins have been squeezed to breaking point. For electrotechnical and engineering services contractors experiencing growing demand for projects as we emerge from lockdown, our advice remains: plan, plan, plan!” "ECA reiterates the continuing need for contractors and installers to engage with manufacturers and distributors as early as possible about their ongoing CMS requirements. ECA has published comprehensive guidance on the situation and the various commercial and contractual options for managing associated risks. This is available here.

Power upgrade boost for Romford

New power infrastructure has reinforced supplies in Romford, as part of a £6.8 million electricity investment upgrade in partnership with a leading local business. UK Power Networks has installed two new transformers and state-of-the-art switching equipment at an electricity substation in the north of the town to help maintain reliable electricity supplies for local homes and businesses. The project costs have been shared with the company Infinity, to include a connection to power its new London East 2 data centre providing jobs for the area, while the overall work will benefit the wider public by increasing power capacity locally. Transformers lower the voltage, enabling electricity to safely flow down UK Power Networks’ cables to people’s homes, and switching equipment means that during a power cut, some power supplies can be quickly restored remotely before an engineer arrives to fix any repairs needed. Duane Gay, project manager, for UK Power Networks, says: “Our work, in partnership with Infinity, is future-proofing the network for the local community and will have lasting benefits. “This joint investment in the north of Romford has reinforced power supplies and will ensure reliability across the area going forward, as well as being part of a major connections project which will create jobs in the town. It is a win-win for the local community.” Stuart Sutton, CEO at Infinity, says: “This investment has significantly boosted capacity at our London East Data Centre campus, supporting the continued demand for digital infrastructure and allowing our customers to grow on-site with us." UK Power Networks is investing £600 million in the electricity network across the South East, London and East of England this year. More than eight million homes and businesses are connected to electricity via the company’s cables and substations.

Wieland provides the electrical connection for HMP Five Wells

Wieland Electric has supplied a variety of products from the company’s gesis RST and GST ranges, along with low voltage lighting control and cabling in all cells and risers, for HMP Five Wells which is currently under construction in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The new Category C resettlement prison is set to open in early 2022 and is built on the site of the previously demolished Wellingborough Prison, which closed in 2012. HMP Five Wells will house 1,680 male prisoners and create around 700 jobs in the area. The project has been overseen by main contractor, Kier, and is embracing a Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) concept. This will integrate digital tools to drive efficiencies in the design, construction and operation of the facility. The project is the first in a series of schemes to be undertaken as part of the Ministry of Justice’s New Prison Programme. Wieland worked with building services provider Crown House Technologies to provide its RST and GST cable assemblies for the off-site prefabricated risers which fed the power, lighting and ancillary services to the individual prison cells and communal areas. All of the cabling in the cells was fully pluggable and incorporated Wieland’s GST and GST MINI systems. Wieland also supplied an extra low voltage lighting control system for cell lighting. The design developed for HMP Five Wells supports the MoJ’s commitment to provide safe, secure and decent prison places, with a focus on supporting rehabilitation.

CMD plays essential role in electrical fit out

CMD, specialist in workplace connectivity and ergonomic solutions, has provided a flexible and high-quality power distribution network for The Ray, a prestigious office development in London’s Farringdon. Well-known for being the former site of The Guardian newspaper, The Ray now stands as an 83,000ft² office development characterised by a modernised warehouse aesthetic, with level two now occupied by a global social media company. The electrical installation of level two for the social media company was carried out by contractor Moyne London, working for developer, Viridis Real Estate. The project began as a standard plug and play installation to take the power distribution network to workstations and a number of phone booth style meeting pods. After the hiatus of the pandemic and considering the company’s changing requirements to accommodate social distancing, the layout had to be restructured quickly and efficiently. Working collaboratively alongside Moyne London, CMD provided its 63A Betatrak underfloor powertrack power distribution system, which includes a click fit method for quick installation and a capacity to configure around bends and corners, which makes it very versatile. Moyne London also used CMD Rotasoc under desk modules which can be easily altered due to their modular design and 3600 continuous rotation with a 32A internal busbar. Peter Goode, contracts manager at Moyne London comments: “The flexibility of the Betatrak underfloor powertrack and CMD’s customer service both paid dividends when the layout was changed mid-project. We were able to alter the location and number of tap offs, grommets and floor boxes to suit the new workstation arrangements. CMD worked with us to revise the installation quickly so that we were able to make up for lost time straight away.”

Putting service first with Makita UK

In a move that reaffirms its commitment to delivering outstanding customer service, leading power tool manufacturer, Makita UK is delighted to unveil its new Factory Service Centre (FSC) in Blakelands, Milton Keynes. Makita UK has relocated its Milton Keynes Factory Service Centre site (located at the company’s headquarters), to a new, larger location to house regional servicing activity. The new 20,000-sqft premises in Blakelands, which is scheduled to officially open on April 6th, will enable Makita to bolster its customer repair and service support commitments and completes a portfolio of three dedicated centres in London, Glasgow and Milton Keynes. Makita’s Factory Service Centres deliver an exceptional service and repair offering for end-users. Products covered under the company’s warranty agreement can be posted (by arranging a collection) or dropped off (with prior booking), at each FSC for Makita’s technical experts and engineers to perform product servicing, detailed diagnostics and high standards of repair work when needed. With a focus on improving levels of technical knowledge across the construction sector, the new larger premises in Blakelands will also be used to host Makita UK accredited service training, as well as Authorised Service Agents (ASA) workshops and seminars. Furthermore, Makita will use the new site to host apprenticeship training sessions focusing on the electrical and mechanical service requirements of Makita tools. Speaking on the FSC opening, Tony Coleman, Technical Manager at Makita UK commented: “Opening this new, larger site is testament to the growing popularity of our tools, as well as our long-lasting commitment to delivering exceptional customer support. We’re now in a better position than ever to deal with service and repair demands, as well as to promote high-quality industry training. The spacious new centre also provides us with ample opportunity to continue growing our operations as we look to develop into new sectors and industries.” All three of Makita’s FSC sites are currently following COVID-19 guidelines and customers are advised to follow the most up-to date guidance on arranging servicing or repairs, published on the company’s website.

A new upgraded website for Wrexham Mineral Cables

Wrexham Mineral Cables, UK manufacturer of fire-resistant mineral cables, has announced the launch of its upgraded website. As well as a completely fresh look, the website has been designed to provide both new and existing customers with access to detailed information about Mineral Insulated Copper Cable (MICC), which is seen by many as the only true fire survival cable. Presented in a simple to navigate format, alongside product information and technical data, the website also features a series of informative videos detailing the benefits of MICC and highlighting its superior performance under test conditions. The download centre provides a comprehensive library of technical information to provide visitors with typical specifications, relevant standards, and installation guides. Steve Williams, Wrexham Mineral Cables Commercial Manager, comments: “There has been a clear message across the construction industry that occupant safety needs to be a greater priority through the entire life cycle of a building. In redesigning the website, we felt it was crucial to highlight the important role fire resistant cables play in achieving this.  The new website offers improved navigation and functionality throughout, providing visitors with easily accessible and informative content about the benefits of specifying and installing mineral insulated copper cables.”

Nexans joins the Copper Mark to promote responsible copper production

Nexans is proud to announce it has joined the Copper Mark, the assurance framework to promote responsible practices and demonstrate the copper industry’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The important milestone demonstrates Nexans’ commitment to the promotion of responsible copper production. Copper is instrumental in Nexans’ production of advanced cable technologies for power and data transmission and the company’s transition to pure electrification through sustainable energy. As the only company in its category that is vertically integrated, ensuring responsible copper production with Copper Mark’s members reinforces Nexans’ overall commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “Nexans is proud to join the Copper Mark as a partner organization to actively promote responsible copper production practices. The Copper Mark is the only organization working diligently to ensure sustainable production of copper and whose focus on social and environmental responsibility mirror those of Nexans,” says Christophe ALLAIN, Nexans Global Portfolio Director Non Ferrous Metals. As an active partner member, Nexans is invited to participate in the Copper Mark’s three Working Groups: Due Diligence, Technical, and Transparency. The Working Groups provide a framework for collaboration by stakeholders on current and future directives in social and environmental responsibility, governance, ethics, and innovation. Joining the Copper Mark further demonstrates Nexans’ commitment to enabling the provision of sustainable energy throughout the world. In 2008, Nexans signed the Global Compact to respect and implement the ten fundamental principles in human rights, labour standards, environmental protection, and anti-corruption. In 2021, Nexans committed to contribute to carbon neutrality by 2030.