News/Renewables news/Product news
Plugged in Small and medium-sized contractors could find themselves frozen out from competing for central government contracts due to their inability to use building information modelling (BIM) Level 2, according to a survey by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA). The survey shows that more than half of contractors (54 per cent) with a turnover of less than £1 million are ‘not ready at all’ for the mandatory use of BIM Level 2 in all Whitehall-procured contracts, while 30 per cent with earnings of between £1 million and £20 million are in the same position. The picture for larger building services contractors is very different, with just 11 per cent of the largest firms (turnover over £20 million) saying they are not at all ready for BIM, with the majority either fully ready, or nearly fully ready. The survey also found that only 34 per cent of contractors with a turnover below £1 million have a ‘BIM champion’, compared with almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of firms with turnover above £20 million. Almost seven in 10 of all respondents (69 per cent) said they did not have a suitable BIM management process in place yet. “Our survey shows that the majority of building services SMEs are not ready for BIM and could find themselves effectively frozen out from central government
contracts,” warned ECA director of business services Paul Reeve. The ECA has developed a four-point action plan to help firms prepare for BIM Level 2, including a BIM readiness checklist and a jargon-buster. The survey also tackled the issue of late payment in the public sector, revealing that 62 per cent of councils do not monitor – or don’t know if they do – whether their main contractors pay sub-contractors promptly. Around one in five local councils (19 per cent) admitted they take no steps to ensure tier-one suppliers are paid within 30 days, and a similar number (21 per cent) do not plan to contractually oblige suppliers to pay those below them in the supply chain within 30 days, despite this being part of legislation.
INDUSTRY // DIARY February 3 TechTalk Cheltenham Racecourse 11 TechTalk Norwich City Football Club 24 TechTalk Venue Cymru, Llandudno March 3-4 ELEX Manchester
9 TechTalk Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham 15 TechTalk Leeds United Football Club 17 TechTalk Derby County Football Club April 21-22 ELEX Exeter
For more information about TechTalks or to book your place on the next series please visit www.niceic.com or www.elecsa.co.uk
10
GET YOUR ANNUAL FEE PAID Certsure is offering registered contractors the chance to have their annual fee paid in return for a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan is the chosen charity of Certsure, which wants the electrical industry to unite and show its support for this important cause. For every £5 donated each firm will be entered into a prize draw to have their annual fee paid for by Certsure. You can increase your chances of winning by donating more. For example, a donation of £20 would get you four entries. There are three prizes up for grabs, covering all Certsure schemes (NICEIC AC, NICEIC DIS and ELECSA Part P). Visit www.justgiving.com/ sparksmacmillan (minimum donation is £5). Don’t forget to include your name, company name, contact email address and scheme registered on with every donation. Terms and conditions apply.
NEW COURSE TO HELP WITH CDM NICEIC has launched an online course to help electrical contractors understand their responsibilities around construction, design and management (CDM) requirements. Previously, CDM requirements were more relevant to larger commercial or industrial projects. But since April 2015 CDM requirements have applied to all domestic projects that include alterations, repairs and maintenance. The course aims to help an individual understand their role within a domestic project and their relationship with the main contractor. The course provides a brief overview of what the CDM regulations relate to, the change and its implication on domestic properties, and the relationship between client, main contractor and sub-contractor (electrician). It also covers the production of a safety file and what the electrical contractor will be expected to provide. Alan Charlton, head of training at NICEIC, said: “When the CDM regulations were introduced in 1994, 75 per cent of deaths were on major construction sites. The introduction of CDM helped reduce that number dramatically and in 2014 75 per cent of construction related deaths were actually on small domestic sites. “Therefore CDM has now been amended to incorporate domestic work and it is vital contractors are aware of their responsibilities.” The course takes around three hours to complete but online learning registrants can spread out that learning at times to suit them. The course costs £40 +VAT. To book, visit www.niceic.direct.com or call 0843 596 2454.
Shutterstock
SMEs risk missing out on public-sector work
Winter 2015-2016 Connections
10 news.final.indd Sec2:10
18/01/2016 11:27
