Connectus Electrical enjoys green surge in demand

Connectus Electrical is enjoying a surge in demand thanks to its specific expertise around renewables – just as it also celebrates its 10th anniversary in business. The business, which employs 28 fully qualified electricians, was founded in 2011 by Stephen John, an electrical and contract specialist, and Carl Brooks, a vastly experienced electrical engineer with an extensive specialist technical knowledge and qualifications. They were later joined in the business by Steve Jones, also an experienced electrical engineer, and Anthony Thomas, an experienced entrepreneur who is also the managing director of ASW Property Services, one of Connectus Electrical’s biggest clients. ASW and Connectus Electrical have now had a symbiotic relationship for many years working side-by-side for clients ranging from large public sector organisations such as Swansea Council to private sector companies such as S.A. Brain & Company. In recent years, Connectus Electrical has invested heavily in acquiring the skills and qualifications required to make it a market-leader in renewable energy projects. In the past 12 months, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns, it has seen a surge in demand for these services. In particular, it has seen a big uplift in the installation of solar panels and charging points for electric vehicles – both trends in keeping with a drive for more energy efficient solutions for its clients. It has also seen more demand for the electrics associated with smart homes, battery storage units and companies seeking advice on reducing their carbon footprint. In addition to the renewables work it conducts, the company also undertakes planned maintenance, reactive maintenance, fault finding and repair, inspection and testing, electrical installations, emergency lighting systems, fire alarm systems, intruder alarm systems, cabling, design and project management and energy monitoring. Stephen Jones says: “We are delighted to have reached our landmark tenth anniversary – but also to be thriving at this time despite the challenges of the pandemic. It is fascinating to see the changes in demand in recent years and we are increasingly busy working on green or renewable projects for many types of clients. We made an investment in ensuring we had that type of expertise a couple of years ago and that is now paying off as trends in energy consumption are changing.” Anthony Thomas comments: “When I first got involved with Connectus Electrical it was mainly in order to secure reliable, high quality electrical work for ASW and we quickly became the company’s biggest client. It was a healthy, symbiotic relationship. “Since then, however, it has been very satisfying to watch how Connectus has continued to grow and diversify and is now a robust company with a healthy client base beyond just ASW, though we remain extremely important as a client. It is especially satisfying to see the company now flourish even further thanks to its expertise around green energy. I believe this will mark a new chapter for the business.”

Homeowners investing more in external 'social spaces' for the home

Before the pandemic little attention was paid towards external ‘social areas’ of the home. Today, Toolstation reveals that homeowners’ perception of external importance has changed as specialist areas are seen as an asset rather than a novelty. Sales for Toolstation’s outdoor buildings category are up 500% between Jan-May compared to the same period in 2020, as more people than ever are investing money in creating new and fun spaces. The figures also reveal that homeowners are big fans of the “Shoffice”, an office in a shed, with sales of sheds up 466% Jan-May compared to 2020. The ‘social spaces’ trend shows no sign of slowing down as we have now become a nation of avid DIYers, with 44% of DIYers revealing they had taken on more challenging or difficult DIY tasks during lockdown and 48% said their DIY skills had improved. Toolstation anticipates Brits will continue to invest disposable income on creating these spaces, as lockdown eases and people start reconnecting with friends and family this summer. Greg Richardson, Head of Marketing at Toolstation, comments: “It’s great to see the nation invest more disposable income on creating social spaces in and around the home. Not only does an external ‘social space’ add a fun factor to your home, but buyers in today’s market will take more notice of these areas which increases their potential to add value to the overall property. DIY doesn’t have to be difficult and no matter how big or small, we have the tools and many more products to help customers tackle their next project.” [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EknVwuRhVPs[/embed]

Qualifications do not automatically equate to competence

The Electrical Safety Roundtable’s first Virtual Conference, entitled: ‘Shining a Spotlight on Initiatives Impacting Electrical Safety in Homes and Workplaces’ took place on Wednesday 12th May and heard from a wide range of high-profile professionals throughout the day. With nearly 200 registrants, the event appealed to a large number of industry professionals with an interest in electrical safety from Local Authorities, Electrical Contracting Companies, Estate and Lettings Agents, Industry Bodies, Electrical Equipment Manufacturers, Housing Associations, Government Officials, Insurance providers and more. A recurring message throughout the day was that qualifications do not automatically equate to competence within any industry - and that consideration should be given to how to verify the competence of those undertaking work without purely focusing on qualifications. Presentations from Clive Betts MP and Lorna Stimpson, Chief Executive of LABC, about the draft Building Safety Bill and the impact this Bill will have on Building Safety kick-started this theme. Lorna drew synergies between the steps taken to introduce registration and oversight for building control officers which were echoed by David Cowburn, Chief Operating Officer of NAPIT, who explained the recent changes taken by the electrical industry to improve the supervision of those undertaking electrical work, the evidence of competence for any employed persons under supervision and the changes to the qualification requirements for those applying to be registered. Updates on the industry campaign to enhance electrical safety in the Social Housing Sector were well received with Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First, giving an overview of the recent report they have produced on this subject. The main take away message from the expert social housing panellists was that access to undertake necessary electrical inspections and remedial work is the number one barrier to enhancing electrical safety in this sector. The importance of managing electrical safety in the workplace and being aware of the risks associated with electricity was brought home by an insightful and evocative presentation from Paul Meenan who was thanked by attendees for shining a spotlight on these issues. Finally, commitment to producing a review into the impact on electrical safety in the Private Rented Sector, following the introduction of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (2020) England Regulations was given by Luke Spanton, MHCLG, following an update on the Regulations. Mike Andrews, Chief Executive of NAPIT: ‘As a UKAS accredited, Government authorised Competent Person Scheme with over 13,000 registered electrical companies we have a strong history of campaigning to improve electrical safety standards throughout the industry and we invest heavily in supporting advancements in this area. I could not agree more with the take home message from the Virtual Conference that qualifications do not equate to competence. Third party accreditation including regular on-site technical assessments and required CPD are key to demonstrating competence. Our commitment to the Electrical Safety Roundtable is something that I am very proud of, and we will continue to provide support to this important stakeholder forum whilst ever there is scope to enhance electrical safety.’ Simon Wood, Business Development Manager – Electrical Market EMEA at Megger: ‘Megger were very pleased to be able to support the Electrical Safety Roundtables first Virtual Conference. It provided a brilliant forum to explore current initiatives being considered and those recently introduced to improve electrical safety, through a broad and varied speaker line up. We look forward to continuing to engage with the Electrical Safety Roundtable and support the work they are doing to enhance safety electrical standards.’

How can the lighting industry become Net Zero?

The next Recolight Webinar on 27 May will discuss how the lighting industry can move to net zero. An increasing number of companies have committed to it. A few have already got there.. Others are planning it. So what must a lighting company do to become net zero or carbon neutral? "Achieving net zero is a challenge and doesn't happen overnight, which is why it's important to begin to take the first baby steps now. This webinar is a great baby step" comments Ray Molony. Our panel will share their experiences of the carbon zero journey. Introducing and chairing the session is Ray Molony, of Build Back Better Awards. You will hear from: Maurice Loosschilder, Head of Sustainability Strategy & Reporting at Signify, Dave Hollingsbee, Managing Director, Stoane Lighting, Bill Skeates, Senior Sustainability & Compliance Manager for Sky, and Nigel Harvey, CEO at Recolight. “Sharing what we have learned so far on our Net Zero journey might be a small but helpful step aiding others with similar intentions.” says Dave Hollingsbee. Transformation to a circular economy and net zero is increasingly being seen as an essential requirement for manufacturing businesses. This will become ever more important as demand for resources rises, and energy costs increase. It also seems increasingly likely that commercial drivers, and legislative changes will make net zero a requirement of doing business. Register for the Recolight Net Zero Webinar to be held on 27 May. It is free to attend, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions to the panel.

Reap the benefits of becoming an ESP Premier Stockist

Wholesalers who take advantage of ESP’s Premier Stockist status will be able to access a whole host of additional benefits and support from one of the UK’s leading suppliers of security and fire protection solutions. Qualifying wholesalers will benefit from a raft of marketing support measures through the ESP online Marketing Hub. This includes promotional flyers, product data, and the use of ESP approved logos and images from the vast selection available. In addition, all agreed profile display boards will be provided free of charge and they will have access to POS merchandising and trade counter support. ESP is committed to further supporting its Premier Stockist wholesalers by providing technical and design support and hosting a series of product training days. These product sessions are designed to make it easy for wholesalers to stay up to date with the very latest products and technologies, as well as the legislation and regulations that impact the products and the sector in general. The sessions are conducted on site by the local area sales manager and are currently being held online in line with the restrictions. For further details on the benefits of ESP’s Premier Stockist status, contact your local area sales manager.

Select welcomes new intake of MSPs

Select has welcomed the new intake of MSPs to the Scottish Parliament and pledged to continue working closely with politicians of all parties to help the country recover and rebuild. The campaigning organisation says that, as one of the country’s biggest employers, the construction industry has a key role to play as Scotland continues to navigate the post-pandemic landscape and create a more sustainable and inclusive sector. In particular, Select is keen to continue its close political partnerships to ensure the correct skills and training is delivered to properly qualified electrical professionals, who will be responsible for the technology of tomorrow as the nation transitions towards net-zero carbon. Alan Wilson, Managing Director of Select, says: “We are proud to have engaged proactively and positively with members of the outgoing parliament on a number of issues of mutual importance and we anticipate a similarly constructive relationship with legislators in the new Holyrood intake. “We were heartened and encouraged in the last Parliament by the progress made on the vital issue of professional recognition of electricians in Scotland, and particularly by the support offered by Jamie Hepburn, then Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, and his fellow MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, who worked with Select in developing a Members’ Bill on the regulation of electricians. “The establishment of an Electricians Working Group was a great advance and we would hope to see its work continue under the new regime to ensure a successful outcome to our long-running campaign for regulation.” Mr Wilson pointed out that many MSPs had backed the organisation through channels such as its Wall of Support, and that there had been widespread pre-election backing for the primary aims of the SELECT manifesto, issued just before the poll. Among the manifesto’s key declarations, SELECT asked the incoming Parliament to introduce: Protection of title to stamp out unqualified electrical workers Laws to make it illegal to carry out electrical work when unqualified Procurement based on quality, not best bids Timely payment and no retentions Recognition of the sector’s role in delivering a sustainable future Mr Wilson says: “Select’s positive engagement with Scotland’s parliamentarians takes into account, of course, the interests of our 1,250 member businesses and 15,000 employees in an electrotechnical sector which is becoming increasingly vital to the nation’s future security and prosperity. “But it is also a primary channel of communication aimed at creating industry conditions which will allow us to support Scotland’s ambitious targets for net-zero, reduced energy use, decarbonisation, climate change and other principal policy objectives around accessible, sustainable places and inclusive economic growth. “We look forward as an organisation to a continued constructive engagement with the Scottish Parliament and demonstrating the same collaboration and cooperation that has steered us successfully through the pandemic during the past 18 months.”

ECA awards now open for nominations 

The ECA Industry Awards 2021 are now open to entries. These prestigious awards recognise the key achievements of the highest talent in electrotechnical and engineering services, providing a great opportunity for contractors and wider industry associates to showcase their exceptional work. This year's awards will also combine Member projects and activities from 2019 and 2020 Award winners will be announced during the ECA’s 2021 Industry Awards Dinner held at the Hilton Bankside Hotel in London and supported by headline sponsors LEDVANCE and Electrium. The dinner is one of the top events on the industry calendar, and more details will be announced shortly. The full list of award categories is as follows: Large Contractor of the Year – over £30M Turnover, sponsored by Schneider Electric Contractor of the Year – £15M to £30M Turnover, sponsored by Eaton Contractor of the Year - £5M to £15M Turnover, sponsored by ABB Contractor of the Year – £1M to £5M Turnover, sponsored by the JIB Contractor of the Year – under £1M Turnover, sponsored by Edmundson Electrical Excellence in Training & Development – over £15M Turnover, sponsored by JTL Excellence in Training & Development – up to £15M Turnover, sponsored by Ideal Industries Best Health & Safety Initiative, sponsored by Electrical Safety First Best Fire & Security Project, sponsored by NSI Best Client/Partnership, sponsored by Markel Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), sponsored by CHAS In addition, the FSA (specialist fire and security group within the ECA) will be presenting its two annual awards for contribution to the fire and security industries during this event. ECA Director of Member Services Helen Atkinson comments: “These awards present a perfect opportunity for ECA Member businesses to showcase their achievements to key clients and other stakeholders, while enjoying a long overdue night of celebration and networking with their peers and key supply chain representatives. “Apart from the huge sense of pride felt by both business leaders and their staff teams, previous winners and runners up have gone on to receive significant ongoing publicity for their businesses.” Entries for this year’s ECA Annual Awards close on Friday 23 July 2021 and are open to all ECA Registered Members.

ECA responds to Queen’s Speech 'skills guarantee'

The number of apprentices fell in almost a quarter of electrotechnical and engineering services firms since the beginning of 2021. The figure comes from an ECA business survey carried out earlier in May. In the light of this finding, ECA applauded yesterday’s confirmation of a ‘lifetime skills guarantee’ in England and urged engineering services employers to make the most of all the recruitment options now available to them. While welcoming the Skills and Post 16 Education Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech, the trade body sounded a note of caution. Andrew Eldred, ECA Director of Employment and Skills, says: “The current uncertainty facing firms from many directions is the root cause of falling apprentice numbers. No amount of incentives will change employers’ minds if the outlook remains volatile. "However, the ‘lifetime skills guarantee’ opens up another important option for employers looking to support skills development. Training routes for career changers or unqualified but experienced workers – which employers or individuals themselves have had to fund before – will now attract Government support.” The ECA survey of 700 electrotechnical and engineering services firms revealed 24% fewer firms employed apprentices in Q2 2021 than in Q1. Over a third (34%) employed fewer subcontractors. And 22% hired fewer direct employees. The ‘lifetime skills guarantee’ incorporates industry recognised qualifications, as recommended to Government by the Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP). ECA is a leading member of TESP and advises member-businesses on appropriate training routes. Andrew Eldred adds, “A recovery in apprenticeship recruitment is vital if businesses are to benefit from new growth opportunities and competence requirements – but nurturing older candidates, including those switching jobs and sectors, is another crucial part of the mix.”

454 hard hats represent the number of UK construction suicides each year 

A total of 454 hard hats have been laid out at a building college to represent the number of construction workers who die from suicide each year, as new research finds that almost half (49%) of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work. The exhibition was organised by IronmongeryDirect for National Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May) as part of its wider campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues amongst the UK trades. The vast collection of hard hats was displayed at the Leeds College of Building to visualise the scale of the suicide problem within the construction industry. Shockingly, male builders are three times more likely to take their own lives than the average UK man, with almost nine tragedies a week. Mental health problems are unfortunately common amongst tradespeople. Nearly three in five (58%) deal with some form of issue, such as stress, anxiety or depression, at least once a week, resulting in over a quarter (28%) taking medication. Finances are the biggest cause of stress (38%), but tensions with customers (31%) and suppliers (29%), as well as high workloads (26%), also add to the strain. Sadly, more than one in four (29%) tradespeople say they do not feel comfortable talking to anyone about their mental health. As part of its campaign, IronmongeryDirect has partnered with the mental health charity, Mind, and donated £5,000 to support its crucial services. Furthermore, 100 of the hard hats from the stunt have been donated to the Leeds College of Building to hand out to its students. Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, says: “We know that issues like stress, anxiety and depression are common in all workplaces, but that there are some sectors where poor mental health is even more prevalent, including construction. “Because men generally find it more difficult to talk about how they’re feeling, in male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal. “We’re pleased to be working with IronmongeryDirect during Mental Health Awareness Week to launch our ‘Mental Health in the Trades’ report highlighting the scale of poor mental health across the sector, and urging employers within construction to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.” Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, says: “It’s heartbreaking to hear the statistics – on average, at least one construction worker dies from suicide every single day of the year – but seeing the scale of the problem laid out visually really hits home. “Unfortunately, mental health problems are common in the construction industry, but lots of people don’t feel able to talk about their feelings. This stigma needs to be addressed if the awful suicide statistics are to be lowered, so hopefully by raising awareness of the issue, things can start to gradually improve.” For more information about the stunt and IronmongeryDirect’s 2021 report into mental health in the trades, please click here.

UK Power Networks works with Carbon Trust to set science-based targets

UK Power Networks has become the first UK distribution network operator to have its carbon reduction plan and targets endorsed by the Science-Based Target Initiative. The company is on course to achieve net zero for all its directly-controllable carbon emissions by 2028. Working with The Carbon Trust, UK Power Networks mapped the carbon footprint of all its emissions, including its supply chain, and modelled the actions it will take to reduce emissions and set challenging targets across all its activities. Verified science-based targets are aligned with the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change to limit the global temperature increase to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while aiming for 1.5 degrees. The company has already reduced its carbon emissions by 26% since 2014/15, and is investing £120m over the next seven years to achieve its ambitious aims. The key commitments to deliver before 2028, in its Environmental Action Plan are: Use only renewable electricity from renewable sources in its buildings Increase use of sustainable materials like low carbon concrete, and use less Replace all its suitable vans and cars with electric vehicles (around two thirds of the fleet), making sure areas with poor air quality get EVs first Recycle 80% of its waste, and send nothing that can be recycled to landfill Introduce lower carbon fuels and hybrids into its mobile generator fleet Create new wildlife habitats on 100 substation sites, building new hedgerows, ponds and introducing wildflower meadows Make its offices more energy efficient by installing LED lights, solar panels, and low carbon heating Work in partnership with suppliers to help reduce their carbon emissions Mark Adolphus, UK Power Networks’ Director of Health, Safety, Sustainability and Connections says: “We have an important role to play in enabling the UK’s transition to a net zero energy system, and also make sure that as a company we operate in the most sustainable way. Our customers, stakeholders and our regulator have been clear – the environment is a priority for them and we listen to that. Our ambition is to go further and faster so we have set challenging, but achievable, targets. We have combined our insights with those of expert stakeholders, considering international best practice and responding to the views of our customers, to make this promise today.” The Plan will also help UK Power Networks achieve the following targets: Well-below two degrees for its entire carbon footprint, requiring a 25% decrease by 2028 A reduction of 42% for directly-controllable emissions by 2028, in line with a 1.5 degree Science-Based Target Offset any remaining directly-controllable emissions to become net zero from 2028 onwards