EDA welcomes new President

The Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) has confirmed Chris Gibson, Projects Director at Rexel UK, as its 91st President. Chris takes over the helm from Bemco’s Simon Barkes and will lead the association for the next two years. Gibson, who has a 30-year career in wholesaling (with 12 of those with Rexel), gave this insight into the focus of his two-year presidency: “It is a true honour to be asked to undertake this role and work with Margaret and the EDA team, as well as with members and affiliates, to develop the organisation during time of change within the industry impacted by major technological and political developments. “During this period, the EDA will focus on developing a stronger working relationship with relevant industry bodies to develop a collaborative strategic approach to ensure all opportunities can be maximised. The EDA will support members to ensure that the electrical distributor remains a critical part of the supply chain through an omnichannel approach. We will ensure continued focus is given to the training and development of people at all levels of our industry, to deliver the best customer experience through service, product knowledge and technological enhancements.” Paying tribute to his predecessor Simon Barkes’ leadership, Gibson said, “Simon has been a member of the EDA Board since 2001, and during this time, has served two terms as President. Over the last two years, he has led the board and worked with Margaret to create a clear strategic direction for the organisation within the electrical industry. The EDA is positioned to continue to be a driving force and provide clearly defined support to its members and affiliates in a changing landscape.” EDA CEO, Margaret Fitzsimons, added, “The EDA team and I look forward to working with Chris. Each new President brings fresh ideas and focus, and we’ll be developing tighter links with our Kindred Industry Associations. The key pillars of the EDA’s work will continue: ETIM, training and apprenticeships, networking events and forums, publications and support with the constant underlying goal of increasing member and affiliate engagement.” The EDA also welcomed Simon Booth, MD of ETC Electrical Supplies, to its management team. He succeeds Dave Huggin, MD of E.D.S. Electrical, as the IBA buying group’s representative. Booth is the latest new face to join the EDA Board since July 2018 when Charlie Lacey, MD at Stearn Electric, took over from David Schofield who retired from the sector.

New London showroom for Hamilton

Hamilton Litestat has opened a new showroom in the City of London. Located in Cannon Green, just a stone’s throw from Cannon Street Station, the new facility – which also includes meeting room facilities – provides a central location for regional customers wishing to review Hamilton’s latest innovations. Included within the showroom are demonstration boards for the company's modular smart lighting control and audio solutions. Customers wishing to learn more then have the option to sign-up for a free system training session at Hamilton’s newly-refurbished training facility in Wiltshire. The company has also revealed that its smart control training courses have proven particularly popular over the past year, with demand necessitating an increase from one to four sessions a month. Alongside control system demonstrations, Hamilton will also showcase its decorative wiring accessories, in a range of finishes and functionality options, to illustrate the breadth of its designer product offering that blends form and functionality requirements. Also on display in the new London showroom are samples of tailor-made designs, including multi-functional plates crafted specifically for the hotel sector. “As Hamilton’s smart controls business continues to grow, it’s a natural progression to make a demo system available in central London, which is a strong business region for us,” says Gavin Williams, Hamilton’s Head of Marketing. “The new facilities in Cannon Green will also give us a new permanent showroom for our other products, and a central location for conducting meetings and networking with our existing and potential customers.” To make an appointment, contact Hamilton by emailing info@hamilton-litestat.com

New business courses for electrical contractors

NICEIC & ELECSA Training is introducing a suite of management courses to help contractors build their business. The new business skills seminars are separate to the practical, hands-on courses traditionally offered by the two organisations. This time, they are aimed at contractors who may run their own business, or those who have recently taken up a quality supervisory or management role and are looking to expand their skills. The first set of courses in the new range will cover project management, relationship management and pricing. Neil Vincent, Training Manager at NICEIC & ELECSA, comments, “Running a successful electrical contracting business is not just about being practical and handy with the tools. There is a range of other skills and knowledge required, a lot of which might be alien to the busy electrician who has solely focussed on technical work previously. These courses will provide contractors with skills in additional areas, which will ultimately help them build their business.” In addition to learning new skills, contractors will also benefit by improving their business processes. NICEIC & ELECSA estimate that around 95% of all complaints from householders relate to a contractual dispute of some format, where a basic contract has not been put in place or a defined scope of works has not been agreed at the start. Research carried out by NICEIC & ELECSA has revealed that: 80% of quotations provided by electrical contractors do not properly document the terms or conditions of the appointment 74% of electrical contractors have never produced a construction phase plan 45% of electrical contractors receive variation orders verbally 60% of electrical contractors would invest in training for improving business process solutions Vincent adds, “The majority of complaints between a contractor and client are down to a breakdown in communication over what was agreed at the outset. Such instances fall out of the remit of our complaints process, and so end up costing the contractor time and money to resolve. “We believe that with the right training, these issues can be avoided. The courses are designed to improve planning, aid negotiation and to give contractors confidence in an area they might not have covered before. It will help improve the efficiency of the service they deliver, prevent costly litigation disputes, and help manage client satisfaction.” The first set of business courses available are: Introduction to project management - a one-day course that will give contractors the necessary skills and confidence running a successful project. Stakeholder relationship management - a one-day course in effective customer communication and engagement. Introduction to estimating - an interactive one-day course to help calculate project costs and overheads for the execution of a construction contract. For more information, and to register, click here.

Last chance to enter ECA Industry Awards

Entries for the ECA Industry Awards 2019 will close on Friday, 15th March. The awards offer an opportunity for ECA Members and supply chain providers to be presented with one of the electrotechnical sector’s top accolades, and gain wide industry recognition for their achievements, expertise and innovation. An independent panel of judges, including Certsure Marketing Director, Mark Smith, and Electrical Safety First Chief Executive, Philip Buckle, will convene in April to consider all entries and compile the shortlist of finalists. Helen Atkinson, Adjudicator and ECA Director of Member Services, comments, “The ECA Awards are an excellent opportunity for businesses to showcase their achievements and build their industry profile. Every year, the judging panel comments on the level of passion and commitment shown by those who enter. Winners, along with all shortlisted entries, gain excellent coverage and publicity across the industry.” The ECA Industry Awards Dinner, supported by headline sponsors Ledvance and Electrium, is once again being held at the Hilton Bankside in London on June 7, 2019. The evening is also a unique opportunity to network with colleagues and make new contacts with industry contractors, specifiers, manufacturers and distributors, and other key figures from the electrotechnical and engineering services sector. For more information, and to enter or book your place, visit www.ecaawards.co.uk.

A new turnkey funded solution for EV charging

A new collaboration to provide a full turnkey funded solution for electric vehicle (EV) charging across the UK has been announced between Mr. Electric, an electrical franchise brand, and Plug-N-Go, a solution for funded EV Charging Systems. Together, the two organisations are offering a fully integrated EV charging solution, which is risk and cost free, across public and private accessed sites. It will include everything from supplying, installing, maintaining and the management of charge points throughout the contract term. Authorised Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) installers of EV charging points, Mr. Electric and Plug-N-Go will work with a number of leading EV equipment service providers that Mr. Electric already works with, to install easy-to-use chargers operated on an ‘open charging’ model - enabling people to use them on a pay-as-you-go basis. Mr. Electric’s network of franchised NICEIC approved electrical experts will carry out the installation and management of the charging points. Plug-N-Go will undertake the maintenance and provide a single contract for all its infrastructure through the contract. Midlands based Buzzards Valley Vineyard & Bistro, a commercial centre with four different businesses, including fishing lakes, a restaurant, shop and artisan market, recently installed the two Plug-N-Go fully funded, EV charge points in its car park for customers to use. Yvonne Viggers, Co-Owner of Buzzards Valley, said, “It made total business and environmental sense for us to provide an EV solution for our customers, particularly when we knew we were eligible for a Government grant to pay the cost of the installation. It is a win-win for both us and our customers, as it doesn’t cost either of us a penny. We very much see this as a long-term investment for the growth of our business, and believe that every public car park should offer similar EV facilities - particularly if we are to see mass adoption on our roads in the future.” Pierre Jeannes, VP of Operations for Mr. Electric, added, “With such strong environmental credentials, full electric and plug-in hybrid cars are now growing in popularity with many more people now purchasing them as we see an increase in both performance and range. Our collaboration with Plug-N-Go will now enable us to provide a cost-effective, high quality and reliable EV charging solution for consumers and businesses, and together, we have the expertise to help provide the technical products, skills and manpower to install EV charging points across the UK.”

Safety expert welcomes u-turn on label regulations

Electrical safety expert Bureau Veritas has welcomed a U-turn on plans to change the labelling of new electrical installations as part of the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations. Published on July 2, 2018, clause 514.12.1 of the BS 7671 – IET Wiring Regulations initially sought to increase the font and size of electrical installation labels from the existing A3 format (as per the 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations). The change was due to apply to all new electrical installations from January 1, 2019. However, following widespread industry concern that complying with the new rule would prove unnecessarily costly and disruptive, the British Standards Institute (BSI) and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has now abandoned plans to change the label format. In a corrigendum published December 2018, which is an official notice to highlight and correct errors in the regulations, the BSI issued a u-turn, stating that the labels will remain in their original layout. Michael Kenyon, Technical Manager at Bureau Veritas, says, “Electrical contractors will certainly be glad to hear this change in labelling format for electrical installations will not be going ahead after all. “As wholsalers currently stock standard size labels, in the run up to the implementation of the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations, there were widespread industry concerns that complying with the change in format would require a complete redesign – a potentially disruptive and expensive process. Therefore, it’s great news the BSI and IET have listened and decided against a change in labelling, a move which will be much simpler for contractors and all those concerned. “Overall, we welcome these new regulations and the onus on improving fire safety across the board. However, we understand that compliance can be complicated, so our advice to contractors is to invest the time in familiriasing themselves with all aspects of the 18th Edition to ensure all work meets the new standard.” Bureau Veritas offers a range of testing and certification services to support customers in managing compliance around electrical safety in general for new and existing installations or for specific areas, such as electric vehicle charging points.

Avande Offers AV and Automation Expertise To Electrical Contractors

As an expert in the design and delivery of audio visual, automation and intelligent lighting systems, Avande is reaching out to the electrical contracting community to offer its services in these expanding and in-demand sectors. With many successful projects and partnerships already completed, Avande is looking to expand its support for contractors by offering them access to the skills, the information, the designs, the equipment and a database of contacts across all areas of the smart home sector. With Avande’s help, contractors can expand their services beyond the offering of wiring, lighting and more basic parts of an electrical install to offer a one-call solution delivering intelligent lighting and heating, smart security, networking and a whole range of exciting smart home and audio-visual entertainment experiences. Avande has the experience of working across many of the most prestigious residential developments in the capital and the South East, including single dwelling projects and MDU’s, delivering the very highest quality to the tightest of demands and deadlines. [caption id="attachment_15985" align="aligncenter" width="371"] Working with Avande, contractors can introduce concepts such as intelligent lighting[/caption] As well as offering all the expertise contractors need to deliver these types of services, Avande can also help with the ordering process via the Avande Connect section of the company website, which provides system building tools for contractors and end users alike. Via the website, contractors or their customers can choose, specify and create a price for a system tailored to their needs in minutes, making the process quick and accurate and without the need for expensive consultants or designers. Ashley Said-Kirton, Founder and CEO of Avande, explains, “As developers look for an edge to sell their properties, the smart home - delivering aspects such as intelligent lighting and heating, networking, home automation and entertainment systems - is of increasing interest. Plugging our experience and expertise into your offering can help you win more and larger contracts, increasing the attractiveness and profitability of your business. Training and gaining the skills you need to deliver these services is expensive and time consuming. With our offering, you already have all the expertise you will ever need to enter the smart home market.” Ashley adds, “Through the Avande approved partners scheme we also work in collaboration with our electrical partners giving them installation work. The Avande Connect store on our website has enabled Avande to have a nation-wide coverage. This means our clients/home owners can select anything from a smart lighting system to a total rewire and design for a new home or extension to an existing property. “Avande offers all electrical, network, control and smart home services, from the installation to design for the residential sector, so there is a huge opportunity for the right electrical contractors to not only enhance their offering with access to smart home equipment, but grow their electrical team by partnering with Avande and taking on more business for the install of our projects. Avande becomes your AV department, broadening your offering and enhancing opportunities for new business.” Working with Avande means electrical contractors can ensure they don’t loose work to AV installers as they will have all the resources to deliver everything from the cable pulling, to intelligent lighting, through to audio visual systems, home automation and beyond. The Avande team stands ready to explain further exactly how we can help contractors enter the smart home market and be successful - just get in contact to find out more; visit avandeconnect.com or email enquiries@avandeconnect.com Images courtesy of Gerrard Developments  

UK homeowners at risk due to electrical safety neglect

The Consumer Protection Alliance believes that when it comes to basic home safety, Brits are falling short and leaving their families open to potential dangers – with a lack of basic action putting their homes in peril. According to its research, over half of Brits (55%) do not unplug electric appliances that are not designed to be left on, while 52% do not know how to test their smoke alarm for functionality. Furthermore, 44% of Brits admit that they do not carry out annual safety checks on the electrical appliances in the home. Of those, 42% don’t know how to check them, over a third (34%) are not aware of which appliances need checking, and almost a quarter (23%) ‘can’t be bothered’ to organise the check. Aligned to this, 28% would wait until an appliance had completely broken down before being prompted to get it assessed, meaning that a simple check could develop into a major issue. More than a quarter (26%) would only organise a safety check-up when they heard about a friend’s misfortune, such as a boiler breaking down. Cheryl Cox, Public Affairs Manager at NICEIC and member of the Consumer Protection Alliance, said, “It’s worrying that the nation is turning their attention away from safety in the home, and that some wouldn’t even consider using the professionals in times of need. Gas and electrical safety is important year-round, but especially during the winter months when an extra strain is placed on our appliances in the home. We tend to forget that our appliances such as the boiler, gas hob and hot water cylinder are used so frequently that they need extra maintenance. Everyone needs to be aware of the dangers and we believe that safety is paramount, and education is key.” In response, the Consumer Protection Alliance has launched a national consumer safety campaign warning homeowners and landlords about the dangers lurking in the home. Each year, 350,000 serious injuries are caused by electrical faults. There are as many as 250,000 illegal gas jobs carried out each year and 40 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning annually. - The Consumer Protection Alliance is a group made up of Dispute Resolution Ombudsman, Gas Safe Register, NICEIC and Which? Trusted Traders. Its aim is to promote consumer safety and protection in the UK.

Warships contract for AEI Cables

AEI Cables has been chosen as one of three companies to supply cables for three of Britain’s new Type 26 warships for the Royal Navy. Working with prime contractor BAE Systems, AEI Cables will supply cable and wiring for the power, lighting and data communications circuits to the vessels, with 400 kilometres of cable being supplied for the first order. The Type 26 combat ships will replace the Type 23 frigates as a versatile multi-mission warship designed to support anti-submarine warfare, air defence, humanitarian assistance and general operations anywhere in the world. Stuart Dover, Commercial Manager for AEI Cables, said, “Supplying cables of this kind for such complex requirements means there can be no compromise in their quality and functionality. We’re proud to be supplying our products to BAE Systems for such an important programme.” The project specified cables to Defence Standard 02-526 (NES526) and 02-527 (NES527) in various core and screen configurations, as well as cables to Defence Standard 61-12 Part 25 and Part 27; and wires to Defence Standard 61-12 Part 18. First installation of the state-of-the-art range of naval power, instrumentation and communications wires and cables is scheduled, with the first warship expected to be in service in the mid-2020s. AEI Cables is already a supplier of defence cables and wiring product for the Royal Navy, including the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier (QEC) through prime contractor BAE Systems, including control cables, weapons cables and medium voltage propulsion cables. All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies, including BASEC and LPCB covering design, manufacture and supply. It also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world.

January gloom for self-employed electricians

Hudson Contract, a construction industry scheme payroll provider, is reporting that self-employed electricians saw their weekly earnings fall by £124 a week during January. The statistic is a direct comparison with December 2018 figures. “It sounds grim, but it’s exactly what we expect at this time of year,” observes Ian Anfield, Hudson Contract’s Managing Director. “After a hectic Christmas, many sites and their subcontractors take the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned break, and it takes until the end of January for everyone to get back into full swing.” Even with pay rates down by 12.2% for the month of January, the average electrical subcontractor continued to earn £1,016 a week – with earnings highest in the east of England at £1,117, and lowest in the South-West at £761. It’s worth noting that despite the drop in January earnings, year-on-year earnings are up £42 a week, a rise of 4.3%, which is almost double the rate of inflation. Hudson Contract seeks to deliver the most accurate indication of subcontractor pay trends across the construction industry, and uses payroll data for more than 2,200 UK construction companies.