ECIC Warns Against Perils Of Off The Shelf Insurance

EC Insurance Company Limited (ECIC), specialist insurer for the contracting market, is warning contractors to ensure they check the terms and conditions and any exclusions before buying insurance cover. The contracting sector is coming under increasing pressure from rising material costs and a reduction in access to affordable skills. This may lead firms to look for cost-saving measures in other areas such as insurance, says ECIC, and opt for a generic policy that may not cover all the risks they face in their day to day work. ECIC is urging contractors to use a broker and seek out specialist cover for their trade. This will help protect against the risk of an insurance claim not being paid as well as protect them adequately should a claim be made against their business. The key restrictions in insurance cover that contractors need to check are: Height limits Depth limits Activity restrictions Premises restrictions Hot work exclusions Activity exclusions Subcontractors not being covered Richard Forrest Smith, CEO of ECIC said, “The process of arranging insurance cover shouldn’t be rushed, particularly if the type of contractor work being covered entails a variety of risks such as working at height or with hot materials. “While there are specialist covers available online to purchase direct from an insurer, it makes absolute sense to use an insurance broker – they will seek out the cover that’s right for your business and the risks you face. They will ask all the right questions to ensure you buy adequate protection and most importantly, they will know the claims record for the insurers they work with. “This is one area where contractors should use expert help and find specialist cover – the risks of not doing so can be far reaching.” Contractors can contact BIBA – the British Insurance Brokers Association – for a recommendation of brokers who specialise in their trade area or region.

'Tap The App' To Win With PowerLottery

The Electrical Industries Charity is challenging everyone in the electrical and energy industries to 'tap the app' and play powerLottery to win big cash prizes, while helping hundreds of people in the sector to have a better quality of life. The charity’s number one fundraising stream, powerLottery is a fun and easy way to show your support and help the charity to support thousands of people with practical and financial support. Thanks to the new EIC powerLottery app, players can now register, play and check results in just one quick and easy click. When you tap the app, you can choose to purchase between one and ten lottery numbers each month at the cost of as little as £1 per month to be in with a chance to win 15 cash prizes of up to £1,000. powerLottery provides the charity with 30% of its annual income which is directly handed out in financial grants to the industry through the charity’s employee assistance programme, which includes the practical participation, apprentice, pensioner, and the family and employee support programmes. In the past year, the Electrical Industries Charity has given financial assistance grants to 672 people as well as direction and guidance to 4,154 people. You can show your support and help the charity to make a difference to thousands of industry colleagues lives by entering powerLottery today. To download the the EIC powerLottery app or enter the draw, visit the charity’s website.

SELECT Calls For More Stringent Electrical Safety Controls In Privately Rented Properties

SELECT, the campaigning body for the electrotechnical trade in Scotland, has responded to a Scottish government consultation paper on Landlord Registration. The consultation recently took place by the Scottish government’s Landlord Registration Team. SELECT has called for more stringent controls over the vital electrical inspection and testing performed by private landlords prior to registration. Darrell Matthews, managing director of SELECT, said: “Private landlord registration has been mandatory since 2004 and a robust application process is critical to keep the people of Scotland safe in privately rented accommodation. “Our members operate to the highest standards of electrical installation and testing and firmly believe that the government should hold private landlords to the same exacting standards.” One of the key areas in the consultation relates to a proposal to expand the 'prescribed information' which landlords have to provide when letting a property. The proposal, as worded in the consultation, is that landlords provide information that 'a property meets the specific requirements relating to gas, electrical, and carbon monoxide safety.' SELECT has responded by stating that landlords should be required to submit written evidence that they have had electrical inspection and testing undertaken and that fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors are fitted and operational. Matthews said, “The current Prescribed Information makes no requirement on the landlord to declare the safety of the property being rented, so any change to this is a welcome improvement. “We believe that this is an excellent opportunity for the Scottish government to put the safety of renters foremost, and ensure that properties being rented by private landlords have electrical installations of the highest standard.”

Network Rail Shows 'Exemplary Leadership' On Payment

Network Rail has set a great example on fair payment, which others should now follow, say BESA and the ECA. The two trade bodies applauded Network Rail’s decision to ban retentions and adopt project bank accounts as part of its new five-year investment programme. Large contractors who work with the railway operator will also be obliged to pay their own supply chains within 28 days under new terms of engagement. This decision affords greater protection and certainty of cash flow to supply chains. It will come into effect during the next funding period for Network Rail, which runs from 2019 to 2024 and will include around £48 billion worth of projects. ECA CEO Steve Bratt commented, “I am delighted to see such a positive development in the fight against unfair payment practices. Network Rail’s decision should signal to the wider industry that true change can, and must, happen. We urge as many clients as possible to follow suit, and show support for immediate reform. The unprecedented support for the Aldous Bill from over half a million businesses and trade body members, as well as one in four MPs, is also telling of the need for change. Network Rail will hopefully be the first of many clients to take bold steps towards fairer business practices and start to show that lessons have been learned from Carillion.” “Network Rail has shown exemplary leadership and foresight," said BESA’s public affairs and policy manager Alexi Ozioro. "This demonstrates not only that reform can happen, but can happen very quickly. If a major client like Network Rail can do it, so can everyone.” Debbie Petford, BESA’s head of legal affairs, added, “Network Rail’s Tier 1 contractors are now contractually forbidden from withholding retention payments. Hopefully this will trickle down the supply chain. We will wait eagerly to see if this happens, but Network Rail is setting a great example to the wider industry.” The BESA and ECA have been instrumental in lobbying for reform on retentions, through shaping and promoting the ‘Aldous Bill’, which is due to have a second reading in the House of Commons on 26 October. The bill seeks to ensure all retentions payments are held in trust to protect sub-contractors from upstream insolvencies, rather than outright abolition. However, eventual abolition of retentions remains a longer-term goal. The issue of fair payment and retentions has become particularly urgent in the wake of the collapse of Carillion in January.

Tickets Selling Fast For 18th Edition Cinema Event

More than 1,300 tickets have already been snapped up for NICEIC and ELECSA’s 18th Edition Live Cinema broadcast. This world first for the electrical industry will see electricians come together for a one-off event, and with just under a month still to go, the numbers are expected to increase further. “The initial response has been fantastic,” commented NICEIC and ELECSA’s marketing director Mark Smith. “It is amazing to think so many electricians will be dotted around the country at one moment in time to learn about the upcoming changes. “It promises to be a groundbreaking moment. We would we would encourage anyone who has not signed up yet to do so and play their part in this one -off event.” On July 4, NICEIC and ELECSA will be transmitting a live talk on the 18th Edition which will be beamed via satellite to 40 cinema screens simultaneously. It is the first time such an event has ever taken place in the construction industry. Tickets cost £5 and can be booked online at a cinema close to you now by visiting www.18edition.com/cinema. The 18th Edition seminar will be broadcast from the Faraday Theatre, in The Royal Institution. Hosted by industry experts Darren Staniforth and Alan Wells, the talk will focus on the changes included in the new regulations and what it will mean for electricians in their day-to-day work. “When the 17th Edition was launched in 2008, a lot of industry myths emerged because multiple messages were communicated by different speakers. The advantage of broadcasting to all four corners of the UK on a single day is that we can communicate a single, consistent message to the industry,” commented Darren Staniforth. “We believe this will benefit the whole industry and increase safety standards as a result.” There will be audience contributions from some of the biggest names in the industry, including representatives from JPEL 64 and its sub-committees, who are responsible for writing the new regulations. The seminar will be broadcast live to over 40 screens across the UK with a full list of all participating cinemas now online. Mark added, “We aim to reach as many people as possible and will have a live link-up with all the cinema screens. We plan to invite everyone in the industry to attend, as it will be of value to everyone from apprentices through to time-served electricians.” NICEIC and ELECSA have partnered with Vue, Odeon, Showcase and Omniplex Cinemas to put on the 18th Edition event. The live seminar and cinema event will take place from 9am on Wednesday, 4Th July.

W Portsmouth & Co Ltd Is ECA ‘Contractor of the Year’ 2018

The winner of the ECA Industry Awards' £5-£20 million turnover category was W Portsmouth & Co Ltd, the London and Bedford-based company that is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The awards recognise ECA member companies who have demonstrated the highest standards in their respective categories over the previous 12 months. W Portsmouth’s managing director Dave Norsworthy said that after 60 years, it was about time to show that taking a long-term perspective on business paid dividends. “We were asked what was our ‘star quality’ – what it was that set us apart from the competition,” he said. “Our answer was ‘being authentic to our vision’. That is what has sustained us: from our first registration as a company in 1958, to where we are today. Our vision is quite simple: always to maintain good relationships with our customers and suppliers – and deliver what we say we will deliver, when we say and to the highest quality.” Just being in business for years was not in itself a guarantee of success, though, he added. “We constantly explore new markets and evolve our methods of working; seeking sustained year-on-year growth, but with security and stability. We choose our clients with care, and we care for our workforce too, to ensure they have continuity and security of employment.” This approach has brought continued contract success, said Dave. Client contracts cited in evidence ranged from MBDA to University College London and the NHS, the biggest project of which was Chase Farm Hospital, designed to be 'the newest, most digitally-advanced hospital in the NHS.' ECA Group London regional manager Malcolm Conby praised W Portsmouth’s achievement, saying, “They have an impressive range of loyal customers, an enviable health and safety record and an outstanding record of longevity; but are right up-to-the-minute in their working methods and techniques – and they place collaborative working at the heart of their approach to business. Their success in this year’s award is a very well-deserved tribute.”

Book Your Table For powerBall 2018

Tables are available to book for powerBall 2018, which is set to offer the electrical industry world-class entertainment throughout the night. On the night of the event, attendees will have a chance to witness the Dirty Dancing show choreographed by Nikki Trow and sing along to hits including Overload and Where Are You Tonight? The returning band Madhen are set to light up the evening with their high energy performance and musicianship, while DJ Laura will ensure no one is 'put in the corner’ with a blend of dance classics. During the night, guests will also have the chance to participate in the Heads and Tails game, test their luck at the brand-new Cash Cube game, create new connections in the networking lounge and enjoy a luxurious 5* wining and dining experience. Prices start at £2,500+VAT for a table of 10 or £250+VAT for an individual ticket. This must-attend industry event is taking place on Friday November 9, 2018 at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. For further information, or to book your table, please contact Liva Ivanova at powerball@eictradingco.org.

ECA Debuts First Podcast Episode

ECA has launched its new podcast with an inaugural episode about Building Information Modelling (BIM). In the first instalment, ECA director of technical Steve Martin debunks six of the biggest myths about BIM: · BIM is just for main contractors or Tier 1 organisations · BIM is just 3D modelling · BIM will cost too much, take up too much time and/or impact productivity · BIM will ‘solve’ clashes and clash detection · Clients won’t know what to do with BIM data · BIM Level 2 compliance is achieved by adopting one standard The podcast aims to provides answers for common queries like who should use BIM, how to achieve BIM compliance, and whether BIM adds value to small projects. Listeners can send questions and ideas for future episodes to podcast@eca.co.uk

Electrical Apprentice Of The Year Winner Announced

Zach Swift from Helensburgh, Scotland, has been crowned winner of the 2018 NICEIC and ELECSA Apprentice of the Year competition. The 21-year old was one of eight competitors to reach the Grand Final, which was held at the head office premises of Scolmore Group – the competition’s official partner – on Tuesday, 5 June. Whittled down from more than 650 candidates who entered the competition, the eight finalists were put through a gruelling day of challenges comprising nine separate tasks designed to assess their abilities across a range of disciplines including testing, fault finding, conduit bending, tray manufacturing and safe isolation, as well as a virtual reality test. Each candidate also had to undergo an interview with Certsure’s technical standards director, Alan Wells. “When my name was called, I don’t think I’ve ever been so surprised, I was ecstatic. I never thought I would even pass the first stage, let alone win the overall title,” said Zach. "After completing the competition tasks and awaiting the results, I really doubted whether I had done well enough. The quality of the work that the rest of the guys were producing was fantastic so when I heard my name called out, I was staggered. Being involved in the whole competition process has already given me more confidence in my work ability and I’m extremely proud of myself for what I have achieved. I plan to keep pushing forward and keep challenging myself to continue to improve more and more.” As the overall winner, Zach was presented with a holiday voucher worth £2,000.  Runner up Morne Louw, 30, from Barnsley received a holiday voucher worth £750, while third place went to Matt Jones, 32, from Bristol who received a £250 holiday voucher. All eight finalists were given an engraved glass trophy, an iPad and a kit bag containing an array of Scolmore’s electrical accessories.

SELECT Supports Call For Protection Of Title For Electricians

Representatives of both employers and employees have come together in Scotland to press the case with government for the protection of title for the occupation of electrician, a move which it is estimated could boost the economy by £58 million. Unite the Union has written to Keith Brown, the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, to express its full support for the long-running campaign for recognition by respected industry bodies. The union supported the Electricians Working Group, which was convened at Holyrood following a concerted awareness-raising push by electrical employers’ association SELECT, the Scottish Joint Industry Board and the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust. Both sides of the industrial divide are asking the government to recognise the skills, knowledge, training, experience and qualifications of electricians and the vital role they play in the functioning of modern society. They also ask the government to take into consideration the risk to public safety of unqualified or underqualified people being able to pass themselves off as electricians, especially when carrying out work for vulnerable householders. Pat Rafferty, the Unite Scottish secretary, said, “Our members have expressed their frustration that people in such a safety-critical occupation are able to use the title of electrician when they have not met the established national and industry standards.” SELECT commissioned a report from 4-Consulting on the economic impact of regulating electricians in Scotland which showed that protecting lives and property in this manner could save the country around £58 million a year. It pointed out that 10 people were killed and more than 600 injured in electrical fault-related incidents in 2016 alone. Newell McGuiness, SELECT managing director, said, "We do not want to leave people behind if they want to operate as competent and safe electricians, and we have taken steps to ensure that there are a variety of ‘routes to qualification’ to make the profession as inclusive as possible. “But we have to act as soon as possible to end the impact of poor and unsafe work and to give consumers confidence that the electricians they commission will be properly qualified.” Fiona Harper, the secretary of the SJIB said, “With this whole-hearted support from our industry partners Unite the Union, there is now a discernible groundswell of opinion in favour of regulation and in particular protection of title for electricians.”