5 minute read
Covid-19 is not the only thing
Adapt BY ROB SHEPHERD and thrive
As 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 Screwfi x’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.” With the Covid-19 pandemic aff ecting 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.
“Th e initial shutdown of the Scottish economy left many projects on hold, but we were pleased to see renewable energy defi ned as essential infrastructure,” says Nick Sharpe, director of communications and strategy at Scottish Renewables. “Th e renewable energy industry was
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 benefi ts 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 fi nancial incentives will have a signifi cant impact,” he says.
Th e number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Scotland has increased rapidly in recent years. Th e 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.
Th e Scottish government aims to phase out new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032, and is
investing more than £30 million in more UK-based manufacturing. the ChargePlace Scotland network, “During coronavirus, some which has grown from 55 public elements of the supply chain stood charge points in 2013 to over 1,000 up very well,” he says. “However, in 2020. Th e installation of public EV when you are reliant on acquiring chargers is continuing apace, while products from a range of sources homeowners, under the Electric and one lets you down, it leaves Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, you high and dry. If ever there was can claim a £350 Offi ce for Low a time for the country to go back Emission (OLEV) grant towards the into manufacturing it’s now.” cost of an EV home charger. Th is Next year’s Scottish Parliament should create valuable opportunities elections will bring issues such for electrical contractors with the as independence back into the right skills in the coming years. spotlight, and some see it as an opportunity to put renewable SAYING GOODBYE energy at the centre of a green Covid-19 has done the impossible recovery. “We are asking the and replaced Brexit in the Scottish government to commit headlines. However, the transition to setting up a Renewables period, when the UK leaves the Transition Training Fund to help European Union single market those working in careers that are and customs union, comes to an not compatible with a net-zero end on 1 January 2021, this will economy move into the renewable have implications for the electrical energy industry,” says Scottish contracting sector. Companies Renewables’ Sharpe. should consider the current EVi Charge Point director environment as a prompt to Neil Beattie is optimistic about rethink supply chains and make EV and renewable energy. “We them more resilient. don’t anticipate Brexit will aff ect Some, such as Prime Electrical Group’s MacArthur, argue this could be addressed through £30m the drive towards EVs and technologies such as solar photovoltaics and air source The amount invested in the ChargePlace Scotland network by the Scottish government
heat pumps,” he says. “If anything, we are seeing more interest due to the pandemic and the desire to be more energy self-reliant.”
TITLE MATCH
Another subject picking up ground is the move to outlaw those who are unqualifi ed from calling themselves electricians. A number of industry bodies have been lobbying the Scottish government to introduce protection of title for electricians, to reduce substandard electrical installations in Scotland and minimise risk to the public. A consultation on a Private Members Bill on the topic is open until 10 November and the Scottish government’s working group on electricians continues to look at the many issues that this subject raises.
Eddie Arrowsmith, NICEIC’s regional engineering manager, acknowledges that while formal training is important, qualifi cations themselves do not indicate competency. “Th e issue is far more nuanced, and should involve an ongoing assessment regime that gauges whether a person currently has the skills to carry out electrical work in the safest and most effi cient way possible,” he says. “Electrical work is carried out by people with a range of skillsets and we believe that trying to create a “one size fi ts all” defi nition of an electrician is a fl awed endeavour.”
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
John F Kennedy once said, ‘In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognise the opportunity’. As we begin to emerge from one of the most diffi cult times in modern history, electrical contractors in Scotland must assess the economic situation, acknowledge the challenges posed by the recovery and exploit opportunities that exist as a result, while reacting quickly to the needs of their customers and continuing to innovate.
Rob Shepherd is a freelance business journalist who specialises in the building services industry
