Electrical Contracting News (ECN) June 2016

Thousands of quality products Unbeatable prices Experts in lighting and electrical Free next day delivery on orders over £50 Shop online or visit one of our trade counters www.nationallighting.co.uk 0845 634 1515 09 12 contract news Who is putting what in where. Lighting projects High profile case studies from the lighting sector. VOLUME 36 NO. 06 • JUNE 2016 24 38 SPECIAL FEATURE: renewables & sustainability Competition An Xbox One and Need for Speed bundle. WWW.ELECTRICALCONTRACTINGNEWS.CO.UK NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS PROFESSIONALISM OF UK ELECTRICIANS The public image of the electrician is woefully out of date, according to a new report by TrustMark. TrustMark has published a new report looking at what defines a true professional in today’s industry, highlighting some of the ways in which tradespeople are confounding negative stereotypes. The report debunks myths around UK tradespeople lacking in professionalism by showcasing a wide range of behaviours that are continuing to build trust, confidence and loyalty among homeowners. These include a commitment to excellent health and safety, training and skills development, and responsible waste management. The tradesmen and women interviewed by TrustMark take pride in smart branding, uniforms and van livery, as well as professional quotations and detailed contracts. They increasingly use digital tools, tablets and mobile technology to improve the way they communicate with customers at every stage of a job, and also put emphasis on respecting and safeguarding the customer’s home, minimising disruption and improving relationships with neighbours. State-of-the-art LEDs from Dextra Lighting have been used to breathe new life into The Lowry’s high profile auditoriums in Manchester. Accreditation is also increasingly being recognised as a mark of the tradesperson’s all-round professionalism as it ensures that technical competence, business processes and service frameworks are in place, helping homeowners to specify with confidence. Liz Male MBE, chairman of TrustMark, said, ‘This report provides a snapshot of the many thousands of smart, motivated and very hardworking men and women steadily changing the reputation and the public’s experience of an entire industry. I feel completely inspired by what I read here. ACCIDENT RATE HALVED SINCE 2010, REPORT FINDS Latest industry figures have shown a dramatic drop in reportable accidents over the last 15 years, strengthening the electrical contracting sector’s reputation for safety in the workplace. The 2015 Survey of Accidents at Work Report, published by the JIB, found that the accident incidence rate (AIR) for RIDDOR reportable accidents is now only 16 per cent of what it was in 2001, and has halved since 2010. JIB and ECA members submitted data for the survey, which analyses deaths, injuries and over seven-day accidents. Slips, trips and falls and manual handling continue to be the most prevalent types of serious injury, with no fatalities reported. In total 33 accidents were reported by companies employing 31 or more ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET, INSTALL ECN_U2D_TRACK_53x224.indd 1 01 Cover.indd 1 ‘Of course, the work to tackle rogue traders is never over, and I still see a future full of new opportunities to improve the way the home repairs and improvements market operates. ‘TrustMark has helped many millions of people over the last 10 years, so today it’s right to celebrate the local firms who do so much to support homeowners and build a £27bn economy. They epitomise a new era of professionalism across a wide range of trades, a million miles away from the old stereotypes of white van man.’ To download the TrustMark report, go to www.trustmark.org.uk/downloads/ operatives. This year, the survey also gathered separate statistics from companies with 30 or fewer operatives. ECA director of business services, Paul Reeve, commented, ‘The huge drop in accidents since 2001 is a remarkable achievement by everyone involved in the industry, and marks a real step change in performance. ‘Yet, in reflecting on this long term success, we should not forget that serious accidents are still recorded. We should now focus on eliminating the root causes of these types of accidents, to achieve even further improvement in the next few years.’ To read the Survey of Accidents at Work Report visit www.jib.org.uk/jibaccident-survey No one offers an underfloor to desk solution that’s easier to fit. We’ve got an unbeatable range of super tough floor boxes and powertrack that’s designed for incredibly quick installation and simple on-site configuration. Our products are independently tested to the latest standards for complete peace of mind. So, choose the UK’s number one in cable management. Call 0844 822 4956 or visit www.marshall-tufflex.com/getsetinstall 03/03/2016 09:44 12/05/2016 09:56