STAT E OF T H E N AT IO N
Adapt and thrive BY ROB SHEPHERD
A
With the Covid-19 pandemic affecting all aspects of our lives, Brexit looming and the Scottish Parliament election next year, these are tumultuous times. Yet while contractors could be forgiven for having concerns, there are also reasons for optimism
RENEWABLE RECOVERY With some of the best natural resources in Europe, Scotland has established itself as a leader in renewable energy technologies. PreCovid-19, the country’s renewables sector was buoyant, helped by the Scottish government setting a target to meet the equivalent of 100 per cent demand for electricity from renewable energy and 11 per cent from renewable heat by 2020. “The initial shutdown of the Scottish economy left many projects on hold, but we were pleased to see renewable energy defined as essential infrastructure,” says Nick Sharpe, director of communications and strategy at Scottish Renewables. “The renewable energy industry was
‘Trying to create a “one size fits all” definition of an electrician is a flawed endeavour’
able to produce guidance which allowed work to restart sooner than it otherwise would have been able to, meaning impacts were limited as far as possible.” To propel renewable energy to the forefront of the economic recovery, Nicholas Gubbins, chief executive of Community Energy Scotland, believes more must be done to highlight the benefits of initiatives. “A strong interest at community level in renewable energy, a consistent Scottish government policy framework and, within the limits of its devolved powers, supportive financial incentives will have a significant impact,” he says. The number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Scotland has increased rapidly in recent years. The country already has the highest level of rapid EV charging provision per head of population in comparison to the rest of the UK, with 8.9 rapid chargers per 100,000 of population. The Scottish government aims to phase out new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032, and is
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
s the sector looks towards the ongoing challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic, many electrical contracting service providers are examining their operational models and adapting their activities to meet current needs, all while looking at potential opportunities for growth. Electrical contracting and the wider construction sectors have remained reasonably active. Figures from the HIS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Total Activity Index jumped to 55.3 in June, from 28.9 in May, signalling a strong increase in total construction output. By late August, 88 per cent of plumbers, electrical contractors, builders and carpenters questioned in Screwfix’s Trade Pulse index were working, against 72 per cent in April and 77 per cent in May. Asked to summarise his experience of the past few months, Greg MacArthur, contracts director at Prime Electrical Group, says: “It has been incredibly challenging, as much of our work is carried out in the newbuild sector, which relies on people buying houses. Some of our staff were furloughed, including myself, and this meant that we had to adapt our operation while having people available to react to any customer emergencies. Having come through this, we are looking to the post-coronavirus future with a positive attitude.”
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