INDUSTRY NEWS ELECTRICIAN’S EARNINGS FALL IN JANUARY Earnings for self-employed electricians fell in January – in keeping with the traditional slow start to the year. Hudson Contract said that the average weekly pay was £965 during January, a fall of 10.4% on December. The company said the overall number of tradespeople on its books last month stood at 87% of prepandemic levels. The figure was 90% before the festive break when most construction sites shut for a fortnight. The best-performing regions for electrician’s earnings were Wales (up 2.6%), the East Midlands (flat) and Yorkshire and the Humber (down 7.3%). Ian Anfield, Hudson managing director says: “There are widespread reports of full order books among our clients. However, all that can change quickly if the housing market slumps and major housebuilders turn off the taps.” Hudson Contract, hudsoncontract.co.uk
ENERGY WORKER HELPS POWER THE COVID-19 VACCINE ROLL-OUT
FIRST FULLY MOBILE BUSINESS APP LAUNCHED
An electricity worker has revealed the emotional connection which comes with giving people the COVID-19 vaccine as a volunteer. Jon Bray, 49, from Saxmundham, volunteers twice a week at the Sole Bay vaccination roll-out in Southwold, run by the Beccles medical centre. He has been given time to do so by his employer UK Power Networks, where he usually trains engineering staff at their Bury St Edmunds training centre. Now his duties every Tuesday and Thursday, and in his own time at weekends, are as part of team of volunteers and medical staff vaccinating the local community in and around Southwold. Jon has already administered vaccines to vulnerable people and health workers as part of the first stage of the government’s vaccination programme, as well as becoming a patient advocate and data-inputter at the centre. Jon says: “You do get a fantastic reaction from people after you administer the jab and the overriding emotion I would say is elation. We had one lady receive the jab and then come back the next day to thank us all again. “It’s a great feeling to be part of a team delivering for the local community. I’m just one of a number of volunteers who will be doing this for the foreseeable future as we bid to control the coronavirus pandemic.”
A mobile app called Timter has been launched – the first tool specifically developed to enable self-employed tradespeople (from electricians to plumbers, carpenters, roofers, small builders and more) to run their business entirely via their smartphones. It is claimed to be the only business tool available for tradespeople that runs entirely on a smartphone. It handles most major aspects of business management including job quoting, project planning, time tracking, product ordering, stock management and invoicing. Timter can help trade professionals boost their earnings and cut costs by reducing inefficiencies and errors. For most, full use of the app can free up at least four hours a week to spend on fee-earning projects. For a tradesperson with an hourly charge rate of £35 who works 45 weeks a year, this could add £6,300 to their annual income – an approximately 20% increase in average pay. In addition, the app can help trade professionals save hundreds of pounds in product ordering mistakes, and it records billable extras as they arise on jobs to ensure they’re not accidentally omitted on invoices.
UK Power Networks, ukpowernetworks.co.uk
CICV FORUM HELPS WORKERS STAY SAFE WITH UPDATED GUIDANCE The Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum (CICV) has issued a suite of new essential guidance to help the sector’s operatives continue to work safely on essential projects during lockdown. The campaigning collective has made three revised advice documents available to companies, associations and workers across the country, covering the latest health and safety information in a comprehensive range of potential scenarios. They include:
Timter, timter.com
• Construction operating guidance • Guidance on work in domestic premises • Guidance on work in commercial premises In addition, the Forum has produced a unique homeworking guidance document and a homeworking checklist to provide yet more essential advice for employers and staff. All the documents have been reviewed by the CICV Forum’s Health and Safety sub-group and underscore the message that if an activity cannot be undertaken safely, it should not be undertaken at all. The Forum has already reinforced guidance about the correct use of face coverings, travelling properly and staying COVID-aware outside work, as well as a reminder to the public to let operatives carry out work safely. CICV Forum, cicvforum.co.uk
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