Ruth Devine MBE becomes ECA President

Ruth Devine MBE has become the 112th President at the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA). She is the second female President in ECA’s 124-year history, after Diane Johnson, who served from 2010-2011. For the past 18 years, Ruth has been a director of contractor SJD Associates, based in Milton Keynes. A prominent figure in the electrotechnical and engineering services industry, Ruth brings extensive industry experience, a deep commitment to apprenticeships, and a passion for building a more inclusive and sustainable sector. Outside of her professional role, Ruth Chairs ECA’s Skills Committee, which advises ECA Council on relevant skills matters and supports member engagement with the skills system. Ruth is also employer Chair of The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP), which supports the industry with clear entry and progression routes, high quality training and assessment and leading research to support industry action. Additionally, Ruth is a founding member of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education Construction Route Panel, and the Building Safety Regulator’s Industry Competence Committee. Additionally, Ruth supports the Construction Leadership Council on skills issues and attends the Government’s Construction Skills Delivery Group. In 2023, Ruth was awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours list, for her services to further education and apprenticeships. Speaking on her appointment, Ruth comments, “It’s an honour to take on the role of ECA President at such a critical time for our industry. As we face the triple challenges of increasing demand for electrification, improving and demonstrating competence for better building safety and closing the skills gap, there has never been a more important moment to unite behind a vision of excellence, opportunity, and innovation. I look forward to working closely with our members, association staff, and stakeholders to champion the future of our sector.” Steve Bratt, Group CEO at ECA, adds, “Ruth has been instrumental in both the electrical and construction industries, driving home the importance of employing apprentices to meet the demand for having the skilled workforce to take the UK to net zero carbon emissions and beyond. She recognises the importance of having the talent pipeline in place now to secure a sustainable future. “Having Ruth at the helm as President of ECA will further strengthen this drive to reach our common goal of futureproofing the UK for the next generation of electrical contractors.” Jeremy Parkin - Director at Powerlink Electrical Services in South Wales - has also been appointed as Vice President of ECA. Glenn Grant has been made Senior Vice President, and Stuart Smith becomes Immediate Past President. For more from ECA, click here.

JTL hosts ‘Trade Talks’ for Hull electrical employers

JTL is inviting Hull electrical employers to its upcoming ‘Trade Talks’ Open Event at its Hull training centre. The event, taking place on Thursday 22 May from 3pm to 7pm, offers business leaders the chance to engage directly with JTL, tour its facilities, and explore opportunities to take on apprentices. This will help to address the skills gap in the region. Attendees will be able to tour JTL’s workshops and classrooms, gaining insight into how the organisation is preparing the next generation of electrical professionals. The event will also provide a chance to meet Philip Carter, Local Delivery Manager at JTL Hull, and JTL’s team of tutors and training officers who will be on hand to offer guidance on hiring and training apprentices. Employers will receive tailored support and advice, ensuring they understand the benefits of apprenticeships and how these can contribute to business growth and workforce development. In addition to learning about apprenticeships, attendees will be able to engage with some of the industry’s key organisations, including NICEIC, Aico, Luceco and more. These companies will be present at a dedicated trade fair where industry-leading trade talks will take place. This will provide an insight into current trends, best practices and latest innovations.  The event will offer various networking opportunities, allowing business owners and employers to connect with peers and strengthen professional relationships within the industry. Complimentary street food from The English Indian will also be available. For more about this event and to register click here. For more from JTL click here.

UK Power Networks harnesses the sun’s energy

UK Power Networks is harnessing the sun’s energy to supply a third of the electricity on its West Suffolk site. UK Power Networks owns and runs the cables and substations which deliver electricity from the National Grid to 8.5 million homes and businesses across the East, London and the South East of England, serving approximately 20 million people. It is celebrating the installation of around 650 solar panels at its site in Barton Road, Bury St Edmunds which employs more than 400 people who work in its offices, depot, and training centre. Meter points have been installed across the site, with the panels generating 344kW of energy. On top of this, the green energy system saves 78 tonnes of CO2 annually. The panels took longer than anticipated to install after contractors had to stop working on one roof due to nesting gulls.   Gavin Roberts, the electricity distributor’s Principal Consultant of solar assets says, “The building at Bury was perfect for a solar installation with the large south facing roof space that provided the ideal area. The system now provides clean low carbon power directly to support our operations from Bury St Edmunds.” For more from UK Power Networks click here. 

DEHN surge protection for high power and fast charging posts

DEHN is expanding its portfolio to include the DEHNguard M DC ACI 1250 FM, a surge arrester developed for use in HPCs and fast charging posts up to 1250V. The device is also a reliable component in DC battery storage systems. The expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric mobility is gaining momentum. Although there is still a long way to go before charging points are available everywhere, it is crucial to protect these investments and ensure their uninterrupted operation.  Quick and easy commissioning and long-term reliable operation of the equipment are the main priority for operators and installers of charging stations. Surge protective devices such as the new DEHNguard M DC ACI 1250 FM are an essential part of the protection concept for these systems. With a protection level of 2.5kV and a short-circuit resistance of 100kA, this modular Type Two arrester is also ideal for use in battery storage systems. In addition, non-response up to 1200V fulfils the normative requirement of IEC 61851-23. The built-in ACI technology with integrated switch-spark gap combination eliminates the need for an external back-up fuse, saving valuable space in the charging post. There is no need for complex dimensioning of back-up fuses, selectivity and connection cross-sections when designing new charging points. The pluggable modules can be replaced quickly and easily in the event of a defect. The floating remote signalling contact on the underside of the device provides reliable information about the status of the arrester for easy remote monitoring. For more from DEHN click here.

LEDVANCE joins CEF Live to showcase innovative solutions

LEDVANCE has announced it will be exhibiting at CEF Live. This is the first time LEDVANCE has attended the exhibition, which is an important event for the electrical sector.  Held at the NEC in Birmingham on the 5-6 June, CEF Live unites thousands of professionals from across the electrical sector, including a wealth of manufacturers. Located in the centre of the UK, the exhibition provides a well-placed platform for LEDVANCE to profile its recently opened warehouse, also located in the region.  This extension to its business operations with its central location, will allow LEDVANCE to serve local needs more easily. Due to a wide variety of solutions available, this will result in rapid distribution to clients across the UK.  The LEDVANCE team will also be taking the opportunity at CEF Live to unveil a number of exciting new products. This includes the Bulkhead Combo, a compact and robust lighting solution designed for indoor and industrial applications. The new Bulkhead Combo uses an innovative and convenient Plug & Upgrade system, ensuring effortless integration of sensors and emergency modules. Upgrading the Bulkhead Combo with emergency lighting and sensor add-ons takes just seven minutes, making it exceptionally time efficient.  Also being showcased at CEF Live will be LEDVANCE’s new Panel Compact 600 TP(a). This premium LED panel is designed for modern office and commercial environments. Featuring a TP(a) rated diffuser, the panel provides enhanced fire safety compliance, while delivering up to 120lm/W efficiency. Completing the line-up will be the new Emergency Bulkhead, a reliable and durable emergency lighting solution designed to provide essential illumination during power failures. With an emergency duration of three hours, the Emergency Bulkhead ensures that critical areas such as corridors and stairwells remain illuminated at all times. In addition, LEDVANCE will be showcasing its Fire Rated Spotlight, a high-performance lighting solution specifically designed for applications requiring both safety and reliability. It is ideal for areas where fire resistance is a priority, providing both security and energy efficiency.  All of these solutions will be available for distribution from the new Midlands-based LEDVANCE warehouse.  The exhibition marks the start of a busy summer for LEDVANCE, with a further product launch scheduled for later in June. This new addition to the LEDVANCE range will offer further options for electrical professionals, bolstering its already extensive portfolio.  For more from LEDVANCE click here.

IronmongeryDirect publishes Mental Health in the Trades Report

Trade supplier, IronmongeryDirect, has released its annual Mental Health in the Trades Report, which helps shed light on the ongoing challenges around mental health in the industry. Tradespeople from across the country were surveyed for the report, and the research looks at the sheer scale of the problem, the leading causes of poor mental health among trade professionals, their access to support, and how further help can be delivered. It also includes the incredible stories of tradespeople who have faced mental health difficulties and bravely shared their struggles to highlight the importance of seeking help. The report’s findings show the mental health challenges in the industry persist and by some measures are more widespread than 12 months ago. This year’s survey found that a staggering 91% of tradespeople say they’ve experienced work-related stress in the last year, with 56% indicating they experience these stresses at least once a week. This is a significant increase from last year’s report when just over a quarter (27%) reported weekly work-related stress. The mental health report also highlights the stigma that sadly still remains around talking about mental health. In fact, 56% of tradespeople revealed that they don’t talk to anyone about their mental health and almost half (48%) say they worry about how others will perceive them if they do open up. In addition, over one-fifth (22%) of tradespeople are unsure how to access the mental health support services they need. Ellis Osborn, Head of Ecommerce at IronmongeryDirect, comments, “The findings of our report make it clear that there is still so much more that needs to be done to tackle this crisis, which is impacting so many tradespeople. This has to change! We hope that by shining a light on the scale of the problem we can help effect a meaningful change in the industry.” IronmongeryDirect is committed to raising awareness of the mental health challenges in the industry over recent years with a series of high-profile campaigns and tireless fundraising. The company has donated over £13,000 to Basildon Mind to support the charity’s efforts to improve the mental health of local communities. For last year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, IronmongeryDirect organised the UK’s first ever inter-trade football tournament (read more about this in our archives). Held at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium, the aim was to further raise awareness of mental health in the trades and highlight the benefits of exercise for improved wellbeing. To read the Mental Health in the Trades Report 2025 in full, click here. For more from IronmongeryDirect, click here.

Smart lighting implemented at Lost Shore Surf Resort

Thorn Lighting's advanced luminaires, including Caelon RGBW Bluetooth, Urba, and Contrast with Bluetooth, have been carefully selected to enhance the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. The scheme ensures a visually appealing and functional environment but also addresses the site's proximity to Edinburgh Airport by minimising upward light. Located in Ratho, just 25 minutes from Edinburgh city centre, Lost Shore is the world's first inland surf resort and home to Europe's largest wave pool. The lagoon, which is three times the size of the pitch at Wembley Stadium, generates up to 1,000 waves per hour, creating an enjoyable experience for surfers of all abilities. Beyond the water, the resort features luxury accommodation, a waterfront bar and restaurant, a surf school and wellness facilities, establishing itself as a major attraction for surfers and visitors alike. Lighting played a sensitive role in shaping the resort's identity. It needed to enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings, complement the resort's striking architecture, and create a safe, welcoming atmosphere for visitors. Engaged by landscape architect HarrisonStevens, Thorn Lighting's solutions were carefully chosen to achieve this vision, ensuring a seamless blend of performance, aesthetics, and sustainability. However, Lost Shore's proximity to Edinburgh Airport posed a significant challenge in terms of light control. The design had to carefully prevent any upward light spill which could interfere with flight paths while ensuring effective, safe illumination across the resort. Similarly, the lighting design needed to respect the site's woodland setting, again preserving the night sky while enhancing key architectural and landscape elements. Thorn Lighting implemented a tailored scheme that enhances the built environment and natural surroundings to meet these challenges. Caelon S RGBW Bluetooth spotlights were selected to illuminate the dramatic cliff faces bordering the lagoon. Typically used for bridge and façade lighting, these luminaires were specified to highlight the rugged rock formations, creating an impressive yet controlled effect. Their tight optical control ensures precise lighting while minimising glare - an essential consideration for night surfers. Urba lanterns (IDA Dark Sky Approved, 3000K) were installed in the car parks and arrival areas. These luminaires provide high-quality urban lighting while reducing light pollution, supporting the resort's commitment to sustainability. Designed by Wilmotte & Industries, the Urba lanterns ensure a sophisticated yet understated presence that guides visitors safely through the space. Contrast floodlights on multi-head columns throughout the resort offer flexible, Bluetooth-controlled illumination, allowing different lighting scenes to be created for various events and activities. This adaptability ensures that the resort remains visually dynamic, with the lighting enhancing the overall atmosphere while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic. A balance of aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability drove the selection of Thorn's luminaires. The ability to adjust lighting intensity and colour via Bluetooth ensures that different areas of the resort can be tailored to specific activities, from vibrant event lighting to more subtle ambient settings. This adaptability contributes to the resort's distinctive identity while reducing energy consumption and minimising environmental impact. Debbie Harrison, Associate Director at HarrisonStevens, comments, "Lighting the Lost Shore Surf Resort was both exciting and challenging. Its proximity to Edinburgh airport and situation within a country park setting were the key factors which informed the lighting solutions. The resulting design is compliant and respectful of its surroundings. Thorn worked with our brief, the client’s budget and the design team requirements to create an atmospheric and sustainable scheme.” As the first inland surf resort of its kind, it is anticipated that Lost Shore is set to become a major tourism and sporting destination. Thorn Lighting's innovative solutions have played a key role in realising this vision, ensuring that the lighting not only enhances the resort's features, but also supports its long-term sustainability goals. With recognition from the Architectural Excellence Award (Public Use) 2025, Lost Shore is a testament to the power of thoughtful design, proving that lighting can shape experiences, define spaces, and create an unforgettable sense of place. For more from Thorn Lighting, click here.

Acrospire illuminates London’s Morgan's Walk development

Set against the riverside backdrop of Battersea, London’s Morgan’s Walk development has been enhanced with Acrospire’s contemporary Chelsea lanterns – blending modern lighting performance with a design that complements the area’s sought-after aesthetic. Nestled along the River Thames between Battersea Bridge and the landmark Montevetro building, Morgan's Walk is a private estate renowned for its blend of modern living and scenic surroundings. With 66 houses and 156 flats set within 10 acres of landscaped gardens, the estate is designed to offer a tranquil escape in the heart of London. However, as the existing lighting infrastructure aged, residents sought a solution that would enhance safety, maintain the aesthetic integrity of the estate, and provide energy efficiency. Morgan's Walk Management thus partnered with Acrospire to deliver a modern, visually appealing, and high-performance lighting upgrade that would meet the unique needs of the estate while ensuring minimal disruption to the local environment. A total of 53 Chelsea lanterns by Acrospire were installed across the estate. The Chelsea is a contemporary amenity lantern, designed to offer superior photometric performance while blending seamlessly into modern urban environments. The Morgan's Walk team selected Chelsea for its sleek, modern design, which harmonises with the estate's architectural style both during the day and at night. To enhance safety, the SYMAREAWIDE lens provides a symmetrical wide beam, ensuring even illumination across communal areas and walkways and helping residents feel safer after dark. A 3000K colour temperature was specified to align with best practices for urban wildlife protection, minimising light pollution along the Thames. The lanterns, which carry a 12-year warranty, also boast an IK10++ impact rating, ensuring long-lasting performance that withstands potential damage and environmental wear. The new lighting installation at Morgan's Walk successfully enhances both safety and aesthetics while providing a sustainable solution that aligns with the estate's long-term maintenance and environmental goals. Michael Stark, Director of Morgan's Walk Management, comments, "We chose Acrospire's Chelsea lanterns over competitor products because they not only looked great when illuminated, but they also complemented the estate beautifully during the day. Other options lacked a bowl, which meant they could attract insects and cobwebs - an issue we wanted to avoid, especially in a riverside location. "The Chelsea lantern is competitively priced and offers a particularly long warranty, minimising future maintenance costs. The service from Acrospire was second to none, ensuring a seamless installation and an excellent final result." For more from Acrospire, click here.

Michael Smith Switchgear receives King's Award for Enterprise

Michael Smith Switchgear has been honoured with the King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of the company’s work in sustainable development. The Leicester manufacturer is one of 197 organisations to be recognised with the prestigious business award. The King’s Awards for Enterprise recognises outstanding UK businesses. Now in its 59th year, the award celebrates achievement in four categories: innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. MSSL is one of only 27 businesses to be honoured in the sustainable development category this year, and it comes after a decade of work on embedding sustainability at the heart of its operations. MSSL achieved Carbon Neutral status in 2022, and is currently seven years ahead of Make UK’s net zero carbon reduction roadmap. It has doubled revenue and workforce over the last nine years, now employing 54 people. MSSL has also proactively enacted a string of sustainability measures which have reduced carbon emissions by 58% since 2018. Speaking to BusinessDesk East Midlands, Sean Smith, Managing Director, says, “It’s great for our team to see their hard work recognised at the highest level. This has never been a box-ticking exercise for us - it’s an area in which we really want to lead change.” The King’s Award recognition comes as Michael Smith Switchgear marks its 40th anniversary. Founded in 1985, MSSL has gone from a small yard behind a Leicester terrace to a purpose-built site that strives to set the standards for sustainable manufacturing. MSSL began its sustainability journey soon after Operations and Finance Director, Emily Smith, joined the company in 2013. Emily, a chartered accountant, has been actively involved in global conservation charities since childhood. Emily comments, “Lots of companies want to move towards net zero but don’t know where to start. This award shows that making a series of small steps over a period of time enables anyone to help protect future generations.” As well as sustainability, MSSL focuses closely on standards and safety, having recently renewed its four ISO certifications - including ISO 14001 for Environmental Management Systems - and recording nine consecutive years of RoSPA Gold Medal Awards. The Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP recently visited MSSL’s site on the Braunstone Frith Industrial Estate, in her Leicester West constituency. She met with team members and saw first-hand the innovative measures underpinning MSSL’s sustainability success. Liz Kendall MP comments, “Michael Smith Switchgear is a brilliant example of how manufacturing growth does not need to compromise net zero ambitions while also creating fantastic roles for apprentices”. For more from Michael Smith Switchgear, click here.

Siemens introduces new ‘training wall’

Siemens continues to invest in its partner training programme with the announcement of the introduction of a ‘training wall’ to enhance the practical experience at its dedicated facility in Manchester. Training has always been at the heart of Siemens' relationships with its partners, with the company recognising the vital role it plays in optimising the potential of its fire safety solutions. The new wall features the Siemens fire safety panels - Cerberus PRO and Cerberus FIT - along with detectors and sounders, including the FDA241 and FDA262 from the aspirating smoke detection (ASD and ASD+) range, all networked to allow engineers to see how the different elements can work together. The wall also has two fire dampers controlled by Siemens actuators which are integrated with the fire safety systems, as well as a PXC4 automation station, a Connect Box IOT unit and a Desigo optic embedded device from Siemens BMS (building management systems) portfolio, all of which can be integrated as part of a Siemens Building X single digital platform. Justin Leeks was appointed as Siemens Fire Product Trainer in 2023 and delivers many of the programmes. He recognises the importance of those undertaking the training being able to actually get experience of using the systems, commenting, “Theory is important, but it only goes so far. I have been a fire systems engineer myself so understand how getting your hands dirty by being ‘under the hood’ and seeing how these systems operate is the best way of learning. This knowledge can then be taken into the field by engineers who understand the specifics of the systems and how to best manage installation, commissioning and maintenance. “One of the benefits of the systems is that a lot of the work can be done in advance, pre-configuring a whole site and thereby offering significant savings in on-site installation and commissioning time. I’d like to thank Advanced Air and Detector Testors for supplying some of the equipment for the wall – it’s great to see that other companies also recognise the value of training the next generation.” The Siemens training programme is designed to be cost effective but comprehensive, with e-learning used to cover the fundamentals, followed by face-to-face training to go into more engineering detail. The training wall has been future-proofed, with a modular approach enabling new products to be added as they are developed. Rob Yates, Siemens' Head of Building Products Fire Safety in the UK and Ireland, adds, “Effective training programmes are vital to the future of the fire safety industry. Much is spoken of the skills shortage which demonstrates all too clearly why it is more important than ever that we invest in the training of those that do choose to go into fire safety engineering. Hopefully, in doing so, not only do we develop their skills, but we also potentially encourage others to consider it as a career option.” For more from Siemens, click here.