CEF’s Jon Gibbons To Cycle Britain For Macmillan Cancer Support

Jon Gibbons, who has worked for CEF for 27 years, is set to take on a mammoth cycle challenge this September to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. The event, Ride Across Britain, will see hundreds of cyclists cover 969 miles between the most south westerly point of Cornwall and the most north easterly tip of Scotland. Aiming to raise a minimum of £2,100 for the charity, Jon’s ride will begin at Land’s End on September 8, and will follow a gruelling, nine day trek north. The longest day will see 126 miles between Hamilton and Fort William in Scotland, while the shortest is between Bath and Ludlow, a 99-mile journey. CEF is Macmillan Cancer Support’s corporate charity partner, and the company is supporting the organisation in its aim to reach and improve the lives of people living with cancer. In addition to the efforts made by Jon and other CEF team members for the charity, CEF will back Macmillan’s ‘Just Say the Word’ campaign by helping raise awareness of the impact of cancer on men in the construction, electrical and home improvement sectors, and encourage those who need it to access support. Talking about his challenge, Jon said, “I’m really looking forward to the event this September, especially as it’s in aid of such a good cause. The work Macmillan does is invaluable and is a cause close to my heart. This will be a big challenge for me, but it’s nothing compared to the challenge faced by those living with cancer. “I’ve always enjoyed cycling, and have taken part in events in the past, but nothing like this. I think the biggest personal challenge will be getting back on the bike every morning after averaging more than 100 miles each day – I just hope the great British weather holds out!” Mark Rasbuary, general manager, Projects and National Accounts at CEF, said, “We’re always proud of the amazing efforts our team makes for the various charities CEF has supported over the years. Working with Macmillan is hugely important to us – the charity is giving people living with cancer the support and help they need. We all wish Jon the best of luck in his challenge.” To donate to the cause, visit Jon's JustGiving page.

ESP Invests In Premises To Future-proof Business

ESP has made a significant investment in its Midlands-based business premises to ensure it will accommodate the ambitious growth plans the business has planned. The site that the premises occupies in Redditch, Worcestershire, has been increased from 8,000 sqft to 32,000 sqft, allowing for more warehouse space and increased stockholding capacity. A total reconfiguration of the space has allowed for new offices and meeting rooms to accommodate the growing workforce, which currently stands at 37. Investment in testing and product development at the company has seen the addition of a dedicated testing lab facility. As part of the building work, the ESP showroom has also been expanded and redesigned to create a state of the art facility to showcase the company's range of CCTV, access control, fire protection, emergency lighting and external security solution products. Neil Baldwin, sales director at ESP, commented, “We are in the fortunate position that we have been able to significantly expand the premises on the site we currently occupy, without the need to consider relocating. The business has been expanding at a rapid rate in the last 18 months, and we have increased the number of people working here from 21 to 37 in this time. This expansion will secure our future here, with enough space to accommodate continued growth both in the workforce and our extensive product line up.”

SELECT Brings SEC Group Position On Public Sector Procurement To MSPs

Alan Wilson, head of membership and communications at SELECT, has made a presentation on the problems facing public sector procurement to the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group for Construction. Wilson, in his capacity as national executive officer of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group, made his presentation to the Cross Party Group at the end of March. It was the latest initiative in SELECT and the SEC Group’s campaign to improve how the business community interacts with the public sector, which buys £10 billion of goods, works and services each year. “My presentation was made to a group of MSPs as well as interested parties from throughout the construction sector to give our organisations’ views on how procurement could be improved,” said Wilson. The SEC Group represents a number of trade bodies in Scotland, which in turn represent around 3,000 firms which employ more than 30,000 people and more than 5,000 apprentices. SELECT's 1,250 member companies have a collective turnover of around £1 billion and provide employment for 15,000 people. In his presentation, Wilson stated that Scottish SMEs are acknowledged as the backbone of the economy and that a smoothly-running procurement environment was a vitally important issue for them. He said, “I wanted to draw to the attention of our elected representatives a number of issues including the payment cycle, retentions, large packaging of contracts and lack of accountability.” On payment, Wilson suggested the more stringent enforcement of Section 15 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 as well as the extension of, and reduction of limits for, Project Bank Accounts. He also proposed placing all retentions into a trust-based deposit scheme and greater implementation of the Act’s provisions which allow public bodies to package contracts into smaller lots for which small firms can more realistically bid. On accountability, he supported the introduction of a yellow/red card scheme and the appointment of a Construction Regulator. Wilson concluded, “In the wake of the Carillion crisis, now is the time to act. People need to be accountable, and they need to pay on time. Retentions should not be used as bargaining chips and we should try to get away from the fixation of large scale contracts.” Newell McGuiness, SELECT managing director, added, “Scotland’s legislators and its parliamentary committees have come some way on procurement and with some sensible additions to the current regulations which cover the operation of the Bill, we could have a procurement regime with which everyone could work and which will deliver for Scotland.”

What's In-Store For ECN?

You might have noticed a few changes here at ECN over the last few months – and it’s a trend that’s set to continue over the coming year. We’re looking to the future as we continue our quest to remain the magazine you need, covering the most relevant, informative, and thought-provoking articles for the electrical contracting industry. After some consideration, we’ve recently switched from ABC to a new BPA audited circulation, so keep your eyes peeled for updates on this. We’re also prepared for the dawn of the dreaded GDPR, having outsourced our data to a global data management company. With their expert advice, ECN is set to stay well ahead of the GDPR requirements and ensure compliance with any upcoming changes in data regulation. In our effort to make sure we’re giving you the magazine you want and need, we will also be introducing an ECN editorial panel made up of external experts from the industry, to ensure we’re providing the right content and covering the subjects relevant to the industry. Finally, and perhaps most exciting of all, ECN can now announce its place as a sponsor for the Electrical Industries Charity’s annual Powerball. We have always been great supporters of the charity’s important role in advocating for the most vulnerable members of the sector, and the Powerball raises thousands of pounds every year for the charity’s good work. So expect updates on the charity’s money-raising ventures from us, and make sure you book your tickets to the ball, which no doubt will be an amazing night for one and all. So watch this space – but in the meantime, don’t hesitate to drop us a line to tell us what you want to see from the magazine. We’re here to provide a platform for industry experts to spark conversation, innovation and change, and we want to give you the opportunity to have your say. Send any comments, letters, articles synopses or queries to kayleigh@allthingsmedialtd.com.

C. K. Tools Comes To The Rescue Of Electrician

C.K tools has come to the rescue of electrician Jason Price, of Jason Price Electrical Services, whose hand was badly injured when a cable rod by another supplier splintered during use. Jason is now the owner of a C.K MightyRods PRO cable rod set. The story came to light when William Sheridan from C.K was visiting wholesaler Seryn Electrical in Ross on Wye. It was during conversation with Elaine Powell, the owner of the business, that she learned C.K MightyRods PRO are splinterproof. She then recounted the story of Jason, who had suffered an injury from a splintered cable rod. Elaine Powell commented,  “As a qualified electrician myself, I fully understand the importance of safety. Cable rods can make light work of cable routing, but I was really upset to learn of Jason’s injury and, as a result, cable rod sales have plummeted since the accident. Customer confidence is of paramount importance to me and, as soon as I heard about the quality and the unique splinterproof feature that C.K MightyRods PRO provide, I had no hesitation in stocking them and sales are already increasing due to increased customer confidence”. Jason Price of Jason Price Electrical Services added,  “I have been in business for over 25 years now and was a loyal user of cable rods in my work. But back in January a cable rod I was using splintered when I was pulling them through. The splinter went straight into my hand and I had to go to hospital to have it surgically removed. The doctors didn’t want to remove the splinter because of any potential nerve damage, so the splinter is still in my hand to this day and I was off work for over a month. “As you can imagine, I lost complete faith in cable rods and had stopped using them, as did other electricians when word got around. But now I will definitely be using C.K MightyRods PRO because the splinterproof coating has given me the confidence and reassurance that I can work safely and I won’t find myself in a similar situation again.”

NICEIC, ELECSA And JTL Partner To Offer 18th Edition Training

NICEIC, ELECSA and JTL have formed a partnership aimed at ensuring electrical contractors have the widest choice of training courses in the country for the upcoming 18th Edition changes. The 18th Edition standard will be published on July 1, 2018, leading to the need for more training support. Electrical contractors will be given a six month transition period to get up to speed with the changes. From January 1, 2019, it will then be a requirement that all electrical installations designed after this date comply with BS 7671:2018, 18th Edition (2018). “Helping more customers to gain confidence and understanding of the changes is the reason we have entered into this training partnership,” commented Certsure’s CEO Emma Clancy. “It means we will be able to meet contractors training needs in more centres across England and Wales than ever before – saving contractors both time and money.” JTL operates nine of its own centres, and has access to more than 100 training locations throughout England and Wales, whilst NICEIC and ELECSA have access to 80% of the country’s electricians. NICEIC and ELECSA presently manage two dedicated electrical training centres in the UK and have access to another 10 centres. The collaboration between the organisations means they will be able to provide 18th Edition training at more locations and to more contractors than ever before.   NICEIC, ELECSA and JTL are currently developing training programmes that will ensure electricians can benefit from the latest training delivery methods. This will include a mixture of classroom and online courses to suit all needs. For more information visit www.18edition.com

The Heat Is On

Consumers often underestimate the importance of considering key issues when researching electric heating options for their homes. As a result, many choose heaters that are not suited to their personal needs or incur higher than expected running costs. This creates an opportunity for electrical contractors to provide guidance to their customers, walking them through the pros and cons of wall-mounted electric radiators and panel convector heaters. Online wholesaler ElectricalDirect, offers insight into the advantages and disadvantages of both types of heaters, helping both electrical professionals and home owners to avoid the pitfalls of choosing a new heating appliance. Radiating vs. convecting heat The main difference between radiators and panel heaters is that the former heats rooms by radiating heat into objects and people in the room by warming up the internal liquid. Panel heaters convect air by heating the elements, then warming the air as it circulates around those enclosed hot elements using the internal convector fan. A downside of convection is that the process tends to circulate dust in the air more which can cause irritation for people suffering with allergies. When advising customers, this is an important consideration for them before making a purchase. However, panel convector heaters have the advantage as a source of instant heat, particularly in small spaces such as box rooms and home offices. They also work very well as an addition to the home’s main source of heating. Electric radiators can take longer to warm up initially, but once the desired temperature is reached, their internal thermostat maintains a constant warmth within the room. Energy efficiency When it comes to energy use, electric radiators are considerably more efficient. Radiated heat is a more direct way of warming a space up, as heat is produced by the hot element and then channelled out into the air. Once the room is at the desired temperature, the radiator will switch off, occasionally coming back on to keep the room temperature constant, within a few degrees of the set temperature. Therefore, the room is warm, without constant power and electricity being used by the radiator. However, both types of heaters can also be turned on and off independently of other heaters whenever needed, giving home owners control over energy use. For additional control, both heaters offer round-the-clock temperature control with integrated timers. Which heater offers the longest lifespan? Panel convector heaters are used to heat a room when it is cold, rather than maintaining a constant temperature in a room. As a result, they are typically on for longer periods of time as each time they have to heat up from cold. Also, when using a panel convector heater less frequently, the dust that gathers on the elements burns, often leaving unsightly sooty residues as well as odours. This is particularly the case when they are switched on for the first time after the summer months. Cost effectiveness If a customer’s budget is limited, the upfront cost of panel convector heaters is lower in comparison to electric radiators. However, since they are less efficient than electric radiators, higher energy bills may thwart customers’ aim of keeping long term outgoings to a minimum. What styles are the heaters available in? If aesthetics are important to your customers, both electric and panel heaters are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. From popular, practical styles to more contemporary designs, the heaters are suited to a range of tastes. ElectricalDirect can offer more advice to help you provide your own customers with a top-quality service. Call us on 08082 742 339 or email: sales@electricaldirect.co.uk.

Electric Heating Could Be Key To Raising Efficiency Of Rental Properties, Says Dimplex

Modern electric heating appliances could be the answer to help landlords of more than 323,000 private rental properties to meet new energy efficiency standards, says Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation. From April 1, all private rented properties in England and Wales must achieve at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E before landlords can grant a new tenancy to new or existing tenants, except where exemptions apply. The same will apply to all private rented properties, even when there has been no change in tenant, from April 2020. It is all part of the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES), under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, which aim to raise the efficiency of homes in the private rented sector. Of the 4.85million private rented properties in England alone, 6.6% only have an EPC rating of F or G according to the government’s English Housing Survey, using figures from 2016. That means approximately 320,100 properties will need to increase their EPC rating by at least one band – and upgrading to modern, energy efficient heating appliances is one of the most effective, least disruptive ways in which to do it. Chris Stammers, head of insight for Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation, said, “Modern electric heating appliances like the Dimplex Quantum system are intelligent, efficient and incredibly easy to use. And with MEES forcing efficiency improvements upon landlords of thousands of properties, they could be just the solution many landlords need. “From April 1st, landlords can no longer ignore the efficiency of their property. The key will be in finding solutions that don’t just raise the EPC rating, but do so in a cost-effective way that will appeal to tenants and reduce the need for ongoing maintenance.”

NICEIC And ELECSA Offer 18th Edition Pre-Orders

Electrical contractors can now pre-order their copy of the upcoming 18th Edition from NICEIC and ELECSA. The 18th Edition will be available on July 2. Contractors who pre-order their copy will ensure they get the book when it first comes out. The new standard is expected to retail at £95 when it launches. Contractors who pre-order their book early will receive a 10% discount. “Once it launches, contractors will have a six month period to get up to speed with the changes,” commented NICEIC and ELECSA’s technical development manager, Darren Staniforth. “From January 1 2019, it will then be a requirement that all electrical installations designed after this date comply with BS 7671:2018, 18th Edition (2018). “Everyone involved in the electotechnical industry will need to be able to demonstrate a level of understanding and awareness of the changes. “Therefore, many contractors will be keen to get a copy of the blue book as soon as it becomes available. By pre-ordering a copy now, they can ensure they get a copy as soon it comes out and have the maximum amount of time to make any necessary changes to the way they work. “They can also make some great savings in the process.” In addition to the book itself, there are also various bundle packages available, including the 18th Edition book plus NICEIC and ELECSA Site Guide. Anyone wishing to make an order can do so by visiting www.18edition.com.

New Guide To Improve Consumer Product Safety Recalls Released

The government’s new Office for Product Safety and Standards has teamed up with BSI, the UK’s national standards body, to launch the first government-backed Code of Practice (PAS 7100) for product safety recall in the UK. The Code of Practice includes details on how a business can monitor the safety of products and plan for a recall, and how market surveillance authorities such as local authority trading standards can support businesses in their monitoring of incidents and their implementation of corrective action. The Code of Practice, developed by BSI, is the first major initiative for the new Office, which was launched by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in January. It follows a recommendation by the Working Group on Products Recalls and Safety to introduce such a code to further strengthen the UK’s already tough product safety regime. This was created with the assistance of leading retailers, consumer interest groups and industry bodies, including; Tesco, Samsung Electronics, British Retail Consortium, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers. The Code of Practice comes in two parts. The first is focused on non-food consumer products and is intended for use by manufacturers, importers and distributors. It provides details on: how a business can plan for a recall, including establishing mechanisms to deal with any product safety issue identified managing a possible safety related product recall or other corrective action establishing mechanisms to monitor the safety of products investigating any potential product safety issue reviewing corrective action programmes to ensure that product safety responsibilities continue to be met The second is aimed at regulators, specifically market surveillance authorities including local authority trading standards. It details how they can carry out their role in ensuring businesses meet their responsibilities in respect of consumer product safety issues by: monitoring incidents and analysing data supporting businesses in the preparation of their ‘product safety incident plan’ (PSIP) supporting businesses in their monitoring of incidents and their implementation of appropriate corrective action