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

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.” 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:

• 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

FIRST FULLY MOBILE BUSINESS APP LAUNCHED

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. Timter, timter.com

RECOLIGHT SETS AMBITIOUS GOAL TO BE CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2030

Recolight has set a target to be net zero carbon by 2030. The target will cover all Recolight’s operations.

Commenting on the news, Recolight CEO Nigel Harvey says, “As a recycling compliance scheme, Recolight is already committed to limiting the environmental impact of the services we provide. But now we want to go much further. Although recycling activities are undoubtedly beneficial for the environment, they still come with a carbon cost. We want to change that.”

A recycling service can produce significant benefits, however, a collection and recycling service also incurs material carbon costs, particularly when waste is transported from collection point to recycler.

Nigel adds, “Dealing with the transport carbon will be particularly challenging. In our next tender for transport services and treatment services, due at the end of this year, 25% of the evaluation points will be awarded for robust plans and actions towards achieving net zero.”

To provide an incentive and roadmap to help the industry work towards net zero carbon, Recolight plans to make up to £50,000 available, on a competitive basis. This is intended to help companies establish low carbon collection, or recycling, of waste lamps. Recolight, recolight.co.uk

CERTSURE ANNOUNCES THE RETIREMENT OF THE ELECSA BRAND

Certsure has announced plans to retire the ELECSA brand from all of its schemes. Starting 26th April 2021, the organisation will begin to transfer ELECSA customers over to the NICEIC brand. The transition of all ELECSA customers will be completed by November 2022.

This step is a pivotal move for the organisation as it seeks to strengthen its position as the leading certification body for the building services industry.

Kevan Parker, Managing Director of Certsure says: “Today is the start of a process of working with our ELECSA customers to move them seamlessly to the NICEIC brand. Historically we have operated the two brands both wedded to our core values of delivering technical excellence and raising standards. However, our assessment processes and the assessors who deliver them are the same. So too is the customer service and technical helpline teams that work behind the scenes.

“In addition, we know that verifiers and consumers have 13 times greater awareness of the NICEIC brand compared to all other electrical certification bodies and thus we want to focus our resources and attention on just one brand.” Certsure, certsure.com

ECA JOINS NEW ENGINEERING SERVICES ALLIANCE

The ECA has joined a new alliance to represent the multi-billion-pound UK engineering services sector.

Actuate UK brings together eight leading trade, technology, research, and professional bodies in engineering services that will deliver a single, consolidated voice for the sector.

As an agent for positive change, Actuate UK will support the delivery of a safer, more productive and sustainable UK built environment and, together with others in the industry, the UK Government and the Devolved Nations, will play a key role in essential national initiatives.

These initiatives include the Construction Leadership Council’s Recovery Roadmap, the Construction Playbook and strategic economic plans in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Building Safety reform and the drive for zero net carbon.

Steve Bratt, CEO of ECA says: “If we are to build back better, faster and greener, maximising the potential of engineering services is critical. I am therefore delighted that the engineering services sector is coming together, right across the supply chain, to speak with one voice and ensure we play our part.”

Actuate UK will also lead the sector’s response to the Building Safety agenda and post-COVID Green Recovery, providing direction and championing the wider industry culture changes needed for their successful delivery. ECA, eca.co.uk

MOVERS & SHAKERS…

Seaward Electronic is setting its sights on further market growth with the appointment of a new chief executive. Electronics industry specialist, Chris Callan, takes up the role after building a highly successful career working with businesses around the UK and in the USA. Since graduating as an electronics and software engineer, Chris has gained widespread experience in business development, product management and executive roles in the medical, automotive and telecoms markets.

Eurolite Wiring Accessories has appointed Clive Hicks as Area Sales Manager for the South of the UK. At a time of change and growth for the organisation, Clive brings 15 years’ of experience of working with wholesalers, specifically working in the wiring accessories sector. Clive says: “I’m delighted to be working for Eurolite. The build quality of the products really is excellent, and there are some great heavy duty products in the range. I’ve been impressed with the fantastic range of finishes, which I know gives wholesalers and contractors such a wide choice for all environments.”

Mechanical and electrical building services specialist J S Wright has appointed a new Mechanical Project Manager to its project management team. Based at the Birmingham headquarters of the 131-year-old company, Gerry McNally has no less than 40 years of experience across the retail, commercial, education, leisure, healthcare, hotel and public sectors of the industry. He is currently working on an £8m project to fit out 276 new apartments within the second phase of the £220m London Square mixed-use development in Bermondsey.