CABLEtalk December 2019/January 2020

December 2019/January 2020 £4.50

Half a century of support SJIB celebrates its 50th anniversary with a night to remember at Edinburgh Castle PAGES 25-30

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Look after your mental health this Christmas

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Find out more about apprentice of the year

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How to put payment pressure on new MPs

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 OPINION

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Alan Wilson reveals what’s on his Christmas wishlist this year

NEWS

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COVER STORY

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All the news and photos from SJIB’s 50th anniversary dinner

All the latest news from SELECT and around the wider industry Discover what SELECT has been up to recently across the country

FEATURES

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How you can get help if you’re struggling this festive season

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We explore the EETF’s vital role in supporting training and skills

FOCUS FEATURES

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Meet SELECT’s Apprentice of the Year 2019 Marc McQuade

FOCUS

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Expert Len Bunton answers questions from Members

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Discover how to protect yourself against falling foul of tax rules Rudi Klein explains why it’s time to put pressure on our new MPs Len Bunton reports back from the SBCC’s annual conference

TRAINING

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FEATURES

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Fundraisers take on gruelling Everest challenge to help EIC

New sessions planned for popular Glen Dimplex ventilation course Students get started on SELECT’s Effective Manager Programme

APPRENTICES

46 MANAGING EDITOR Iain Mason iain.mason@select.org.uk EDITOR Sarah Wolstencroft sarah.w@connectcommunications.co.uk 0141 560 3022

ADVERTISING David Hughes davidh@connectcommunications.co.uk 0131 561 0022

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Ryan Swinney ryan@connectcommunications.co.uk

CABLEtalk is produced by Connect Publications on behalf of SELECT connectcommunications.co.uk

Medal delight for apprentices at this year’s WorldSkills UK LIVE

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

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All the latest pioneering gadgets and stylish workwear for winter

DIARY

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Upcoming events, £50 Christmas crossword and meet Susie Liddle

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

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COMMENT

All I want for Christmas is…

B

eing asked what I’d like for Christmas is quite an invitation.

Depending on how you look at it, there are endless personal, organisational, industry or even world-changing choices, but for the moment, I’ll stick to organisation and industry wants.

From a SELECT perspective, there is no question that some of my ‘wants’ will be spun into the industry when (and not if) they happen. So, if the jolly, red suited, hirsute and rotund person asked to see my list, and assuming my name was not on the naughty list, I would ask for:

“It’s great to see that nearly 50 of our own Scottish politicians agree with our view that our sector should be regulated”

The regulation of electricians in Scotland.

Support. We now look forward to the day when a bill is passed in Holyrood.

Like an orange, or indeed a Terry’s chocolate orange, this is a perennial request. What could be more warming than toasting your chestnuts in front of an electric fire on Christmas Eve knowing that everyone tucked up in their beds was sleeping in the sure knowledge that any electrical work that had been carried out in their homes had been completed by a qualified and competent electrician? No more nightmares before (or after) Christmas about your home being safe!

On that note, it’s great to see that nearly 50 of our own Scottish politicians agree with our view that our sector should be regulated and have backed our Wall of

Getting paid on time!

Heaven forfend that anyone should actually pay you on time. SELECT Members often find themselves on the long list of those asking to get paid and it’s not because they are on the naughty list. It’s a sad state of affairs that when a business tells you that it has been paid in full and on time you think: “That’s a Christmas miracle.”

Clients, domestic and commercial alike, along with our usual panto villains (insert your least favourite main contractor’s name here), seem to find more excuses than ever to avoid paying.

I know that there are good payers out there, I just wish there were more!

On a serious note I was really shocked to read the results of the impact of late payment on the mental health of a number of our Members.

We are working on some real ways in which we can help and plan to launch these in the New Year.

In the meantime, if you are feeling the stresses and strains, especially at this time of year, please do speak to someone; it really can make such a difference.

It’s my money not yours.

Hands up those who think that retention is a good idea? Well, I guess you can see why it was introduced, but sadly it’s not worked well for many, many years and it needs to be fixed.

The Scottish Government has just issued a formal consultation about this issue, thanks to lobbying by SELECT and other bodies, and this will be a chance to make some real changes.

After all, that retention money belongs to you, the contractor, not the client and certainly not the main contractor.

Please take the chance to take part in the review.

So there we have it. Not a long list, I am not greedy and all are achievable.

I haven’t asked for anything fantastical, like Hearts winning the league, so let’s see if we can deliver by this time next year and make everyone’s lives just a little bit better.

In the meantime, I wish all the readers of CABLEtalk a peaceful and merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2020.

Alan Wilson Managing Director, SELECT

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NEWS REGULATION The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian EH26 0SB

Gail Ross MSP

Tel: 0131 445 5577 Fax: 0131 445 5548 admin@select.org.uk

Follow SELECT online at:  TWITTER @Updates_SELECT @Training_SELECT @Regulate_SELECT  FACEBOOK SELECT.TheECAofS

 

Brian Whittle MSP

Yvonne Wilson and Alex Rowley MSP

Huge boost as 32 MORE MSPS back call to regulate electricians

Patrick Ha rvie MSP

Visit our websites at:

select.org.uk select.org.uk/training cabletalkmagazine.com selectawards.co.uk

Please phone our membership team on 0131 445 5577 to apply to become a Member of SELECT or if you would like more information about joining.

Alternatively you can email us on memberservices@select.org.uk or submit an online enquiry.

CABLEtalk is the official magazine of SELECT and is distributed free to qualifying readers.

ISSN 1365-3288 SELECT is the trading style of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland. The SELECT logo is a registered Collective Mark.

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M

ore than 30 MSPs have added their voices to SELECT’s rapidlygrowing campaign for regulation of the electrical industry.

Some 32 new politicians have joined the swell of cross-party support after we recently spent three days meeting MSPs and delivering our vital message about safety at Holyrood.

The MSPs’ names will now be added to our Wall of Support, which shows the many individuals and organisations backing the crusade for Protection of Title.

Among the new supporters is Michelle Ballantyne, Conservative MSP for South Scotland, who said: “I am delighted to support this campaign because protecting title not only ensures standards and recognition in a profession, it also provides reassurance and safety for the consumer.”

Ms Ballantyne, who is also Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Social Security, added: “In an age where we are increasingly reliant on electricity, we need to know that someone who calls themselves an electrician is suitably qualified and is not going to put our life, or the lives of those we are responsible for, at risk through lack of

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

training.” SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson, who helped gather the names at a SELECT exhibition between 12-14 November, said: “We are delighted at this continuing groundswell of support and would like to thank these MSPs for backing our campaign to make electrician a regulated profession.

“The response from every party has been extremely encouraging and it’s heartening to see that improving safety for consumers is a priority for our politicians, no matter their party allegiances.”

SELECT Specifier and Client Relations Manager Yvonne Wilson, who organised the exhibition, was also delighted with the response.

She said: “The event was a huge success and it was great to deliver our message in person Iain Gray MSP

View the SELECT Wall of Support at bit.ly/selectwallof support

Stuart McMillan MSP

Alan Wilson with Maureen Watt MSP

Monica Lennon MSP

and engage with MSPs. From their Mark responses, McDonald MSP it’s clear that regulation is a topic that interests politicians from all sides.

“We will continue to work towards our ultimate goal – making it an offence for someone to call themselves an electrician when they have inadequate qualifications.”

The latest endorsement comes as part of growing cross-party support for the SELECT campaign, with 41 of the Parliament’s 129 MSPs now signed up.

In October, SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson added his support, two months after SNP MSP John Mason gave his backing to the campaign. SNP MSP Colin Beattie and Conservative MSPs Alexander Burnett and Graham Simpson added their names to the wall in July. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie

Murdo Fraser MSP

David To rrance M SP

Margaret Mitchell MSP

Mary Fee MSP

Rennie and SNP MSP Clare Adamson also added their names this year, along with Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston and the Greens’ Alison Johnstone.

The issue is now progressing through the Scottish Parliament and a Member’s Bill is currently being prepared for discussion next year. The Scottish Government has also pledged to publish a consultation on the regulation of electricians as part of its 2019-20 Programme for Government.

Michelle Ballantyne MSP CABLEtalk

The new list of MSPs backing the campaign is: ●● Conservative: Jeremy Balfour, Michelle Ballantyne, Bill Bowman, Maurice Corry, Murdo Fraser, Alison Harris, Dean Lockhart, Tom Mason, Margaret Mitchell, Edward Mountain and Brian Whittle. ●● SNP: Angela Constance, Bill Kidd, Richard Lyle, Gordon MacDonald, Stuart McMillan, Gail Ross, David Torrance and Maureen Watt. ●● Labour: Claire Baker, Mary Fee, Neil Findlay, Iain Gray, James Kelly, Monica Lennon, Alex Rowley, Elaine Smith and Colin Smyth. ●● Green Party: John Finnie and Patrick Harvie. ●● Liberal Democrat: Beatrice Wishart. ●● Independent: Mark McDonald.

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

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NEWS ROUND-UP SELECT helps consumers understand new alarm regulations SELECT has launched an essential guide to help the public understand new regulations about smoke, fire and carbon monoxide alarms.

Under the new laws, all homes in Scotland must have an effective interlinked warning system in place by 1 February 2021.

To help comply with the new ruling, which came into effect in February 2019, SELECT has produced an eight-page brochure that gives clear step-by-step guidance on exactly what is required.

Designed to be handed out to consumers and landlords by SELECT Members, it identifies the types of fire and smoke alarms specified for use and exactly where they should – and shouldn’t – be installed around the home.

The guide, which has been developed in partnership with Aico, also provides similar advice about the location of carbon monoxide alarms, as well as giving an introduction to the Tolerable Standard and Repairing Standard.

Dave Forrester, Head of Technical Services at SELECT, said: “Although consumers and landlords don’t need to comply with the new regulations until 2021, it is vital to raise awareness about exactly what needs to be done.

“The new booklet has already proved extremely popular with Members and the public alike, with copies handed out

by SELECT at recent events in Glasgow and Edinburgh.”

Sam TwistonDavies and David Crosse, top left, and Members

On to a winner with race day

Members from the Dumfries and Galloway Branch enjoyed a day at the races recently, watching the runners and riders in Carlisle.

Some 24 Members and guests travelled across the border to the town’s famous racecourse.

They watched all the action from a private box complete

The law is changing, but is your property properly protected?

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DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

with a large balcony which overlooked the finish line.

And jockey David Crosse even popped in to pass on some tips and invite the Members down to track side for the third race, where they met 2013 Grand National winner Ryan Mania and enjoyed a Q&A with fellow jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.

After lunch, a cheque was handed over to Keith Ball for The Alexandra Unit in Dumfries Hospital, using funds which were raised at a previous branch dinner. Member Representative Fiona Smith said: “We had a fantastic day out and some Members even managed to back a few winners.”

Committee asks for Members’ views on EVs and energy systems

T

he Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee is seeking the views of SELECT Members to contribute to a new energy inquiry.

As part of a wider focus on electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, the committee wants written input from as many people as possible on the following themes: ●●The impact of increasing numbers of EVs on electricity generation, transmission and distribution. ●●The role of EVs in balancing electricity transmission and distribution networks. Are new battery and grid technologies being adequately supported and rolled out? ●●Are enough and the right type of EV charging points delivering

accessible charging, and keeping up with consumer demand? ●●Given the declaration of a climate emergency, what more needs to be done to promote a change in culture where EVs are the preferred alternative to fossil-fuelled vehicles?

The committee is also seeking views on local energy systems, namely: ●●The appropriateness and achievability of the 2020 and the 2030 community and locally owned energy targets. What are the key issues impacting the viability of schemes? ● Whether it is appropriate to incorporate community and locally owned schemes in the same target and policy area.

What more could be done to encourage communityowned schemes? ● Do CARES grants and loans adequately support relevant projects? ●● The role of District Network Operators (DNOs) in connecting community

and locally owned projects. What more could be done by DNOs to encourage and support projects? ●●What role can smart, decentralised local energy systems play in ensuring security of supply and supporting a just transition to net-zero by 2045? ●●The role of local authorities in delivering community and locally owned projects. How can these be integrated into local energy systems? ●●What systemic and behavioural changes are needed to increase the use of smart local energy systems? ●●Has public engagement to date been successful and what more could be done?

Submissions for both of the topics should extend to no more than two sides of A4 and be sent by email to economyenergyandfairwork@ parliament.scot by Friday 10 January 2020. You don’t need to answer all of these questions and can focus just on those most relevant to you.

Your submission will be published on the Scottish Parliament’s website and may be quoted in the Committee’s report or in Committee meetings.

Further details are available on 0131 348 5403 or by emailing economyenergyandfairwork@ parliament.scot

CONSULTATION ON RETENTIONS IS WELCOMED BY SELECT SELECT has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of an industry-wide consultation on the use of cash retentions in construction.

The move follows a massive ongoing campaign by SELECT, working in partnership with the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group.

SELECT and SEC Group Scotland have been carrying out extensive lobbying among members of the Scottish Parliament to encourage them to support legislation to ring-

fence the monies. SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson said all firms in Scotland’s construction industry would now be

encouraged to participate in the consultation, which closes on 25 March 2020.

Alan, who is also National Executive Officer of SEC Group CABLEtalk

Scotland, said: “Our message is clear: Cash retentions must be put in a ring-fenced account or scheme.

“In this way we are more likely to see the end of a 200-year-old practice which has been abused to the detriment of small firms who often wait years to get their retentions released.”

The new Holyrood consultation comes after a review of the system of cash retentions carried out for the Scottish Government by consultants Pye Tait.

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

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NEWS ROUND-UP SCHOOL SUPPORT SELECT Member firm Moray Robertson Electrical Services has sponsored a new high school award which aims to inspire young entrepreneurs.

The prize for pupils at Wallace High in Stirling was presented to S6 pupil Carla Gee during a special ceremony.

She was chosen by the school’s management team for showing her leadership and entrepreneurial skills over a range of activities.

Carla said: “I was really chuffed and it was extra special because it was the first one to be given out. I’m proud to have won the award and grateful to the Robertson family for organising it.”

MRES Managing Director Moray Robertson – a former pupil at the school where his daughter now studies – handed over the Young Entrepreneur of the Year trophy to Carla.

He said: “It’s great to be able to work with the school and give something back to the local community. I was delighted to present Carla with the award and recognise her skills.”

Glynn’s dreaming of a light Christmas

S

ELECT Member Glynn McFadden brightens up Christmas for thousands of people each year – installing festive lights in towns and cities across the UK. His company, Glynn McFadden Electrical, has the task of making sure displays are shining bright to bring plenty of seasonal sparkle.

“This year, we’ve had jobs in Paisley, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh among other places,” he said. “And we also do jobs throughout Fife where we’re

“I love Christmas.

You can’t be ‘Bah humbug’ in this job”

Glynn with one of his stunning light displays

based.” Much of the work is carried out for the specialist firm, Blachere Illuminations. “We started with two or three jobs seven years ago, now we’re kept busy for three months working on around 30 projects,” said Glynn.

As well as installing Christmas lights, the firm carries out work such as eye bolt testing and fittings checks to make sure everything is safe and functional.

Glynn explained: “We’ve got a 16-strong team and there’s a hectic period from September until the first two weeks of December. Things calm down

Winner Marc is guest of honour The autumn Lanarkshire Branch Update featured a very special guest of honour – SJIB/Edmundson Apprentice of the Year Marc McQuade.

The SELECT Awardwinner was invited to speak at the meeting which was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton 10

CABLEtalk

Hotel Strathclyde on 6 November.

Marc told Members and guests about his background, how he became an apprentice and his experience during the Awards night itself.

Branch Chair Donald W Orr said: “It was great for Marc to come along and tell

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

Members about his road to being crowned Apprentice of the Year. He spoke very well and everyone enjoyed the evening.”

Apprentice interviews: PAGES 18-21

Donald W Orr and Marc at the Branch Update

Aberdeen’s Bon Accord shopping mall

before it gets busy again as we take everything down during January.

“Manchester was a big job. It involved putting lights in 160 trees in the city centre. It took us four weeks, whereas in most cases we work on a job for two or three nights.

Other nice projects this year included Multrees Walk in Edinburgh and Gleneagles Hotel.”

Glynn said the trickiest part of the job is coping with the winter weather and the wet and windy conditions.

And it is most nerve-racking in the minutes before the lights are switched on.

He added: “Luckily, we’ve not had any failures so far. We always get there early and do plenty of testing.

“I love Christmas. You can’t be ‘Bah humbug’ in this job. There’s lots of satisfaction in making it all happen.

“When the lights go on, people feel Christmas is on its way, and it’s especially exciting for the kids. There’s a great atmosphere that gives you a real buzz.”

New look for certificates SELECT is launching new Membership and Training certificates in the New Year as part of a refresh of all our printed material.

The new-look Membership certificates are designed to replace existing cards, with a paper copy and digital version posted and emailed to each Member business once annual subscriptions are paid.

New Training certificates will also be issued to candidates who successfully complete any of our many courses.

NEW MEMBERS

11 firms have become SELECT Members since October 2019

DSB Electrical Services – Airdrie BM Electrical Services – Kirkcudbright Argon Technical Ltd – Paisley Milne’s Property Services – Cupar GC Electrical – Dumbarton Ella Electrical Ltd – Dunfermline Clydeside Electrics – Brodick, Isle of Arran CJK Electrics – Dundee Owens Electrical Contracting – Sanquhar LSS Electrical Services Ltd – Paisley McGill Scotland – Dundee

Edinburgh Electrical Society’s 2020 plan The Edinburgh Electrical Society will be holding its first meeting of 2020 on 4 February.

The session will feature a lecture on digital forensics from David Toy of Cyan Forensics.

Meetings are usually held in the Balfour Suite of the Charwood Restaurant in Edinburgh and start at 6pm for 6.30pm.

Other events scheduled for the year include a lecture on ‘Unleashing the Power of Earth Observation’ and the annual golf outing.

To join the Society or to find out more, contact Honorary Secretary Alex Lumsden on ahlumsden@hotmail.co.uk

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NEWS ROUND-UP

TOOLBOX TALKS ARE READY TO GET ON THE ROAD AGAIN SELECT’s Technical team has already chosen the hot topics as we prepare to take our ever-popular Toolbox Talks on the road again in 2020.

Electric vehicle charging and EICR coding will be the subjects that are up for discussion as we deliver the latest technical updates to Members far and wide.

Our experts will once again visit 12 locations the length and breadth of Scotland, from the Borders to the Shetlands.

Dates and locations will be revealed in the next issue of CABLEtalk.

FESTIVE OPENING HOURS Wed 25 Dec to Sun 5 Jan closed

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Mon 6 Jan business as usual

Celebration on the menu

Employment rules guide to explain rights

A

host of familiar faces gathered at The Walled Garden as SELECT hosted its annual Past Presidents’ and Honorary Members’ Luncheon.

Guests tucking into the Christmas fare on Wednesday 4 December included Douglas Kelly, Michael Goodwin, Archie Jay, Dick Allan, Ricky Wilson, Martin Bailey and Malcolm Crofts.

Current SELECT President Kevin Griffin, Vice President Donald W Orr and Immediate Past President Eric Rae also attended the festive meal, along with Branch Chairs, SECTT’s Anne Galbraith and SELECT staff Fiona Harper, Dave Forrester, John McGhee and Iain Mason.

Members are set to receive advice and guidance about new employment rules that come into force next year.

Starting from 6 April 2020, all employees and workers will have a right to a more extensive Statement of Particulars, a legally binding agreement that sets out the terms and conditions of their employment.

SELECT and the SJIB will be issuing a circular describing these new requirements and what action you should take in the New Year. Further details will also be featured in the next issue of CABLEtalk.

Familiar faces enjoy this year’s Past Presidents’ and Honorary Members’ Luncheon at The Walled Garden

Updates to SJIB national wage rates launched Changes to the SJIB national wage rates and the allowances for operatives, apprentices and adult trainees come into effect on 6 January.

Updates have been made to the lodging allowance and retention fees as well as the holiday entitlement, which rises from 31 to 32 days.

Effective 07/01/2019

Effective 06/01/2020

2.75%

3%

Operatives Shop

Travel

Shop

Travel

Technician

£16.82

£18.88

£17.32

£19.45

Approved Electrician

£14.72

£16.77

£15.16

£17.27

Electrician

£13.41

£15.46

£13.81

£15.92

Labourer

£10.36

£12.41

£10.67

£12.78

Adult Trainee Stage 1

£10.36

£12.41

£10.67

£12.78

Adult Trainee Stage 2

£11.40

£13.14

£11.74

£13.53

Adult Trainee Stage 3

£12.74

£14.69

£13.12

£15.12

Apprentice Stage 3 (Apprentices registered before 07/01/2013)

£9.98

£11.74

£10.28

£12.09

Approved Electricians Responsibility Money – From 10p to £1.00 Effective 07/01/2019

Effective 06/01/2020

2.75%

3%

Apprentices (registered after 07/01/2013) The full details of all the changes can be found at www.sjib.org.uk or members can find out more by emailing fiona.cornwall@sjib.org.uk or calling 0131 445 9216.

At Work

At College

At Work

At College

Apprentice Stage 1

£5.36

£4.69

£5.52

£4.83

Apprentice Stage 2

£7.38

£6.71

£7.60

£6.91

Apprentice Stage 3

£9.39

£8.72

£9.67

£8.98

Apprentice Stage 3 FICA

£10.73

£10.06

£11.05

£10.36

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NEWS BEHIND THE SCENES It’s been a busy October and November for SELECT staff, who have again been working hard on behalf of Members. Here are some highlights – and some social news too AT SELECT HQ

GLASGOW Head of Technical Services Dave Forrester attended a two-day IET conference on diversity and inclusion in Glasgow on 7 and 8 November. The event dealt with issues such as ageism, developing and retaining talent, family friendly workplaces and productivity.

THE WALLED GARDEN Specifier and Client Relations Manager Yvonne Wilson hosted an SEC Group Safety Forum at The Walled Garden on 6 November, which included presentations from Training Plus and BAM Nuttall.

THE WALLED GARDEN Technical Adviser Darren Sweeney presented the second of our new one-day training courses in domestic ventilation on 7 November (above). The courses are being run in partnership with global experts Glen Dimplex.

THE WALLED GARDEN Refurbishment of The Walled Garden continued in October and November, with new lights installed throughout the offices, staff computers upgraded and a new phone system introduced.

THE WALLED GARDEN October saw Training Administrator Laurie Burns hand over boxes of toiletries, clothes and food donated by staff for homeless people. The items – which ranged from toothbrushes, hats, gloves and socks to chocolates, playing cards and dog treats – will now be made up into Christmas boxes and handed out in Edinburgh on Christmas Eve.

PRESTWICK Specifier and Client Relations Manager Yvonne Wilson spoke to delegates about topics including fire regulations and regulation of the industry at the South West Scotland Landlord Conference at Prestwick Academy, Ayrshire, on 2 November.

IRVINE Technical Adviser Stuart McKelvie delivered a BS: 7671 training session at the Gailes Hotel, Irvine, Ayrshire, on 24 October.

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ST ANDREWS Managing Director Alan Wilson represented SELECT and its Members at the annual EDA Scottish Function, held this year at the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, on 8-11 October.

TRAINING

training courses delivered 14

GLASGOW Technical Adviser Mark McLaughlin delivered a talk on fire detection and fire alarm systems as he and Membership Representatives Diane Hales and Allan McCabe flew the flag for SELECT at the Meet the Buyer event at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on 13 November.

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

NEWTON STEWART Member Representative Fiona Smith and Technical Adviser Stuart McKelvie hosted a drop-in session for Members at the Crown Hotel in Newton Stewart, Dumfriesshire, on 21 November.

612 TRAINING

delegates trained

PERTH Head of Technical Services Dave Forrester represented SELECT at a seminar organised by the Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance, held at Perth Racecourse on 5 November.

FURTHER AFIELD BRUSSELS Head of Technical Services Dave Forrester flew to Brussels to represent SELECT at European Fire Safety Week on 19 and 20 November. He discussed SELECT’s regulation campaign and enhanced fire detection across Scotland.

LONDON Technical Adviser Mark McLaughlin reported back on the future of electric vehicles after attending the HSE’s Innovation in Battery Technology event in London on 14 November.

LONDON Specifier and Client Relations Manager Yvonne Wilson was at the Houses of Parliament in London on 29 October, representing SELECT at an event organised by the SEC Group.

MONTREUX SELECT President Kevin Griffin and MD Alan Wilson attended the AGM of the European Association of Electrical Contractors in Montreux, Switzerland from 16-19 October.

LONDON Head of Skills and Employment Affairs Fiona Harper represented SELECT at the ECA Skills Committee in London on 15 October, attended the Sector Skills Discussions and SkillElectric Industry Reception on 22 October and was at the National Electrotechnical Training AGM and board meeting the following day. She represented the SJIB on 29 October at the Scottish Government’s Electricians Working Group with SELECT MD Alan Wilson and SECTT Chief Executive, Anne Galbraith. meeting was organised by Simply Let for members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents and National Association of Estate Agents.

EDINBURGH Head of Resources John McGhee attended the quarterly Bank of England inflation briefing in Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, on 12 November.  The Walled Garden

HAWICK Technical Adviser Darren Sweeney and Member Representative Fiona Smith discussed issues with Members during a drop-in session at Minto Golf Club near Hawick, Roxburghshire, on 28 November.

EDINBURGH Managing Director Alan Wilson joined Specifier and Client Relations Manager Yvonne Wilson at a special three-day SELECT regulation exhibition at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh, from 11 to 14 November.

EDINBURGH Managing Director Alan Wilson was the guest speaker at a celebration dinner in Edinburgh on 12 November to mark the 100th anniversary of the Edinburgh Electrical Society.

EDINBURGH Membership Representative Diane Hales and Technical

Adviser Stuart McKelvie were busy on behalf of SELECT at this year’s Scottish Letting Day (above), discussing topical issues with landlords and the general public at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, on 12 November.

EDINBURGH Technical Adviser Stuart McKelvie delivered a talk at the Marriott Hotel in Edinburgh on 7 November, covering EICR form filling to BS 7671: 2018 and the significant changes to fire detection to BS 5839-6:2019.

The regional CABLEtalk

EDINBURGH Head of Skills and Employment Affairs Fiona Harper and Managing Director Alan Wilson met with Conservative MSP Graham Simpson at Holyrood on 7 November to discuss regulation and building standards approved certifier schemes.

EDINBURGH Managing Director Alan Wilson met with Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, at the Scottish Parliament on 8 October (below). The duo discussed payment and retention issues.

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FEATURES MENTAL HEALTH

A not so merry Christmas

Suicide rates among construction workers were more than three times the national average between 2011 and 2015.

Source: Office of National Statistics, 2017

Mental health issues are a growing concern in the construction industry – and the festive period can often make stress, depression and suicidal feelings even worse. However, help is at hand if you need it

M

ental health issues are already one of the biggest challenges to the electrical sector, but at Christmas, existing issues can suddenly seem magnified.

The festive period is extremely difficult for those suffering with stress, depression and other symptoms of serious mental strain. Christmas brings with it the expectation of expensive gifts

and overindulgence, which affects people already feeling the impact of late and unfair payments more than ever.

The yuletide season is also a time for overindulgence and alcohol – which can add an unbearable temptation to those who are recovering from, or struggling with, addiction.

Luckily, help is at hand thanks to the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC), which works hard to support those struggling over the holiday season, including a special helpline that stays

WHICH FACTORS DO CONSTRUCTION WORKERS VIEW AS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO POOR MENTAL HEALTH? Late pay Long hours Job uncertainty Working away Tight deadlines Poor welfare Site safety Financial pressures Work culture Drugs Alcohol Other 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Source: Construction News’s Mind Matters survey 2019. Note: Respondents were able to choose multiple answers.

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DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

open throughout the Christmas period.

Tessa Ogle, CEO and MD of the EIC, said: “The festive season, although a happy time for so many of us, can be a really difficult period for many of our electrical industry colleagues.

“We know that mental illness knows no boundaries and does not discriminate.

We also know that suicide rates in the electrical industry are already 2.7 times higher than the national average.

“That’s why we offer a variety of ways to help people who may feel that they have nowhere to turn and can’t cope with the extra pressures that Christmas often brings.

“We will help anyone who reaches out to us for assistance – whatever their circumstances.”

The EIC says a third of the cases it deals with involve mental health issues and out of all the cases it supports, 76% of people are diagnosed with clinical depression or anxiety.

Tessa added: “At Christmas time, seeing everyone in an endless good mood and enjoying sentiments of joy

Sources: Payment and Mental Health in Construction Survey, ECA, BESA and Prompt Payment Directory, 12 September-10 October 2019; Mind; Centre for Mental Health, 2017.

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

85%

of bosses in Scotland have suffered stress over payments

80%

of Scots bosses have suffered loss of sleep over payments

and laughter all around can aggravate their own life. Tess added: “The EIC feelings of intense sadness, loneliness continues to support those within and hopelessness. our industry who are affected by “Although the EIC tries to help mental health issues and it continues everyone who contacts the helpline, to strive for a more open and positive the sad thing is sometimes we’re too culture within our sector surrounding late and the individual may already mental health. have reached their crisis point.”

“We champion positive mental One such crisis point came in health within the workplace, 2018, when the EIC helped through both our mental the family of a young health awareness training electrician who took his and mental health first SELECT Member own life after a long aider training. scales new heights struggle with mental illness.

“We also rely on the in aid of EIC: Matthew, who was 33, left generosity of our fundPages 32&33 behind a wife and two young raisers who help us continue children. He had never our vital work through the contacted the EIC before, but festive season and beyond.” after his death, his employer rang the charity on his wife’s behalf and they were able to offer invaluable help.

Matthew was not alone in his To find out more about struggle – in 2018 the charity dealt how the EIC can help, with 37 suicides. call 020 3696 1710 Some 2,157 people also contacted or go to www. the EIC at crisis point, with 443 electricalcharity.org people reporting attempts to take

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38%

of bosses in Scotland have suffered depression over payments

1 in 4

people will experience a mental health problem each year

£35 billion

the overall cost of mental health problems to UK employers DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

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FEATURES SELECT AWARDS 2019

Top Marcs WINNER

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Determined Marc McQuade has overcome family heartache to be named Apprentice of the Year at the SELECT Awards 2019

M

By Stewart McRobert

arc McQuade has already been through a lot in his 26 years. His future career once looked uncertain as he tried a string of different jobs without finding something that suited him.

After deciding on an apprenticeship with WMQ, he started to shine as his career got off to an incredible start.

But in 2018, he tragically lost his mum when she passed away suddenly – then suffered another devastating blow when his dad had a stroke in June this year.

Despite the challenges he has faced, Marc’s hard work and talent shone through – and he was named SJIB/ Edmundson Apprentice of the Year at the SELECT Awards 2019.

As Marc explained, things didn’t turn out as he intended when he left 18

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St Aidan’s High School in Wishaw in 2011. “I got some good qualifications and went to Strathclyde University to study theoretical physics,” he said.

“However, I didn’t take to university life and I wasn’t there for long.”

Path to success

Marc took some time off then applied to the RAF, sitting various exams, interviews and medicals. Ultimately, the judgment was that he would benefit from more life experience.

That was the turning point that set him on his career as an electrician.

“I started applying for jobs, one of which was for Scottish Power and the National Grid. My dad, who works for WMQ, told me that if I wanted to take that route, his employer was the only choice.”

In 2013, Marc was interviewed and duly became a WMQ apprentice.

RENOVATION MAN Not content with undertaking an apprenticeship and a degree, two years ago Marc started out on property renovation.

After buying a property in Allanton near Shotts. he stripped it back to the brick shell, demolished the old extension and started afresh. He and his dad have been gradually completing the work, from building the new kits to completing concreting, plumbing and heating.

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Looking back, he believes it was no surprise he took this path. He said: “At school I enjoyed physics and maths, which involved quite a bit of electrical work. When I was growing up, my dad built our house and I spent weekends helping him. Becoming an electrician felt like a natural progression.”

Trusted talent

It turns out his dad’s views on WMQ were right. Marc said: “The way they deliver the SJIB apprenticeship is excellent. You get involved in a very wide range of work and the chance to obtain all the skills an electrician needs.”

His own experience bears that out.

During his first year he worked at Gartnavel Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Both were substantial projects involving major work.

Marc said: “I was learning the basics; seeing how a tradesman works, how to be safe, and the importance of making sure that everything was clean and tidy.

However, I was also involved in jobs and working with serious infrastructure.”

Marc excelled at college and WMQ began giving him jobs they’d normally offer to fully qualified electricians. These included working on Penicuik’s bio campus where he supervised the installation and testing of an office floor, with experienced electricians in his team.

After passing his FICA, Marc became the electrical foreman in charge of electrical and subcontractors during work at Woodside Health Centre in Maryhill, Glasgow. It was a major project and he played his part in achieving a first-time handover of the building. He also gained a Higher National Certificate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at New College

Lanarkshire and started a Building Services degree at Caledonian University which he’s due to complete in 2021.

Marc also dedicates a lot of his time to helping apprentices through their FICA. He and WMQ have established a testing, fault-finding and safe isolation booth where they prepare FICA eligible apprentices for their assessment.

Family tragedy

While he was making such impressive progress Marc’s family suffered an unexpected tragedy; in September 2018 his mum passed away without warning.

It had a devastating effect and Marc ended up taking six months off work.

Fortunately, he received great support from WMQ. “They’ve been fantastic”, he said. “I’m really close with the guys both on site and in the office. My mum was a childminder and used to look after some of their kids, so we’ve got a strong bond.”

Marc was appointed a junior electrical engineer, working from the WMQ office.

Sadly, that has also been interrupted.

“My dad had a stroke in June and since October I’ve become a full-time carer for him. My younger brother is at home and my gran is affected by dementia. So, I’m concentrating on my family right now.”

In spite of these challenges, Marc, pictured below with partner Lisa Rattigan, was able to celebrate winning Apprentice of the Year. He said: “It was phenomenal and I would have loved for Mum and Dad to be there. I was really humbled since the other guys were superb candidates. I was determined to enjoy the night, no matter what.”

Summing up, he explained his career success simply: “Working with WMQ has given me passion and ambition.

Taking up the apprenticeship is the best thing that’s happened to me.”

Continued on page 20 >>> CABLEtalk

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FEATURES SELECT AWARDS 2019

FINALIST APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Ready to dough Awards finalist Daniel gets set for a new challenge at biscuit firm

D

aniel Begg loves being able to get out on the road. It’s been one of the joys of his apprenticeship with Moray Council.

But, he’s about to have a change of scene.

Sadly, it will mean less travelling, but it will open up new horizons and give him the chance to do new types of work.

Daniel, who lives in Lossiemouth, explained: “I’m leaving the Council to take up a new post with Walker’s Shortbread in Elgin.

I’ll be a maintenance electrician, so it will be a totally different job to the one I’ve done up to now.”

It’s another step forward for someone who admits he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he left school in 2015. It was only after attending a pre-apprentice course at Inverness College that he realised he wanted to be an electrician.

Three months later, he landed an apprenticeship with Moray Council. He said: “When they offered me the place I grabbed it with both hands. I thought it would be a great place to start my career.” Daniel says the job has more than lived up to his expectations. “In the first two years there’s a steep learning

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curve and, even though I’ve been time served for a year, I realise there’s still lots to learn. You have to think on your feet and you need good people skills.”

And he’s relished the chance to get out and about, adding: “You spend a lot of time travelling. There’s a new destination every day and it’s always different.”

Daniel’s also appreciated the support of a close team at the Council. He said: “There’s a good spread of ages and experience. The older guys know how everything works and they’re always ready to lend a hand.”

Until now, most of Daniel’s work has been in a domestic setting. However, he’s had the chance to do some maintenance tasks, which will stand him in good stead for his new role. “At my age it’s important to get as much experience as possible,” he said.

Since he loves travelling the recent SELECT Awards in Glasgow proved a great trip. He grinned: “I was delighted and surprised to be shortlisted. It was a fantastic night. I enjoyed the celebrations so much I left my finalist’s certificate behind.

Luckily, it was posted to me afterwards!”

Skye’s no limit Well-travelled Kevin is on the road to success after apprentice award

S

ELECT Awards finalist Kevin Durning has seen plenty of new places during his apprenticeship – travelling across the country from London to the island of Skye.

And that wide-ranging experience is one of the things that helped him be named one of the country’s top three apprentices this year.

Kevin said: “My employer, HF Electrical, has offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Manchester and Belfast. I did lots of travelling during my apprenticeship, working in places like Islay, Skye and London.

“The work ranged from shopfitting for the M & Co chain to pub remedials and refits. There was a lot of hands-on experience and I often had the responsibility of just getting on with the job, so it was really useful.”

After leaving St Andrew’s High School in Clydebank in 2009, Kevin originally studied sports engineering at Strathclyde University. Although he completed two years, it didn’t turn out as he imagined.

Kevin’s dad – who was previously an electrician and is now a college lecturer – suggested he try a pre-apprenticeship course at Clydebank College.

The course lasted three months and gained him an interview with HF Electrical.

Within two weeks, Kevin was delighted to receive confirmation

of his apprenticeship, which began in June 2013. “I discovered pretty quickly that the job can involve long hours and be more physical than you expect, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. “It’s a great workforce, everyone gets along really well and the company treats you well.

“At HF we cover everything in the electrical industry. You never do the same thing for too long.

“We do fire and security, pub refits, shopfitting, industrial work, control works and so on.”

In January, Kevin will be time served for two years and eligible to go for approved

electrician grade. His plan is to work his way up through the company, moving into design and management within five to ten years.

He was delighted to get shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year at the SELECT Awards.

“It was a brilliant night. My family, girlfriend and a couple of colleagues were there and everyone had a great time. It was great to be considered among the top three in Scotland.

“HF had never had anyone get that far before and the certificate is now on display in our Glasgow office.”

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FEATURES EETF PROFILE

The Foundation of The CABEC competition gives school pupils a taste of the construction industry

The Electrical Education Training Foundation is helping develop the next generation of skills and knowledge to ensure our industry thrives

F

By Stewart McRobert or the electrotechnical sector to prosper, it’s vital to encourage everyone working within it to have the skills and knowledge to develop a lifelong career.

That’s why the work of the Electrical Education Training Foundation (EETF) is so important.

This charity, operated by SELECT, plays a crucial role by providing grants that support training across the industry. Alex Guyan, current chair of the EETF, explained: “The Foundation

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was set up by SELECT in 1998 and we use our income to help fund a whole host of different projects.”

One of its longest partnerships is with the annual Construction and Built Environment Challenge (CABEC).

This is a project that helps schoolchildren become familiar with the industry and the skills of the people involved. Alex said: “We’re helping with Alex Guyan

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“Training is essential if our industry is going to thrive and the EETF is actively looking for projects to support”

a great education a new CABEC project being established in Aberdeen as until now, it’s been based in Edinburgh. There had been a proposal to run the project in Glasgow but it is proving difficult to find the number of sponsors required at the moment.”

Apprentice support

The Foundation has also developed a positive relationship with the Prince’s Trust, the charity that helps vulnerable young people get into jobs, education and training. “We donate to a course the Trust runs in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee,” said Alex. “It’s good to see young people getting a chance to make the most of their lives.”

Naturally, the charity has a focus on providing help for apprentices too, as Alex revealed: “Among other things, we’ve backed a project that’s allowed apprentice records to be integrated with Onefile, an online system that brings together training and assessment.

“And we received a request from the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) to fund ‘fault-finding boards’ for test inspection and problem solving to help apprentices through their Final Integrated Competence Test (FICA). We were asked for 50% of the cost, but we had sufficient reserves and were able to pay the full amount.”

the idea of career progression. It wants to make it easier for people to go from electrician to approved to technician and then on to university programmes.

“We make a major investment in helping people attend Napier University’s Effective Manager Programme,” said Alex. “It’s a vital way for firms to develop their people.

“The university are enthusiastic partners and our relationship has been running for 12 years. We provide a substantial grant to help businesses with the course fees. This is invaluable to small companies who would usually find it difficult to pay the whole fee.”

Here to help

For his part, Alex has been involved with EETF for the past seven years.

He said: “I’m also a member of SELECT’s Central Board and one day a space became available on the Foundation Board. I was keen to help

and find it really rewarding. I sit on the Training and Skills Committee, which allows me to identify projects that EETF can help with.”

Future projects

Alex is proud of the work carried out by the charity and the role it plays. He added: “In our industry, EETF is the only body I’m aware of that people can turn to if they need help to fund training. Being part of SELECT we have our ear to the ground and know what’s happening. We try to be proactive; if we spot a project where we might be able to help we encourage people to submit a proposal to us.

“Ultimately, we know that training is essential if our industry is going to thrive and the EETF is actively looking for projects to support.

“I’d encourage anyone who thinks we might be able to help to get in touch. We consider every proposal.”

Buliding careers

Alex and the other members of the Foundation committee are always keen to explore new ways to publicise their activities, with recent emphasis on the possibilities offered by animation.

They’ve already funded one video, designed to be shown in schools, that promotes an electrotechnical career.

And, related to the fault-finding boards, they’ve backed an animation aimed at apprentices that focuses on problem solving. “We’re keen to use the animation format more frequently in the future; it’s cost effective and an efficient way of learning,” said Alex.

One of the EETF’s goals is to promote

Some of the students from the Prince’s Trust’s Get Into Electrical event CABLEtalk

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FEATURES SJIB 50TH ANNIVERSARY

 6-PAGE SPECIAL

The SJIB Board with Jamie Hepburn at the 50th anniversary party

Cheers for 50 years Guests enjoyed a night to remember at Edinburgh Castle as they celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB)

L

eading lights from across the electrical industry gathered at Edinburgh’s most famous landmark to raise a glass or two to the SJIB’s half-century. Guests who enjoyed a glittering evening in the castle’s

Queen Anne Room included representatives from SELECT, Unite the Union, the Joint Industry Board (JIB), the Electrical Contractors’ Association, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Qualifications Authority and Energy Skills

Guests enjoyed a fabulous night at Edinburgh Castle

Continued on page 26 >>> CABLEtalk

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FEATURES SJIB 50TH ANNIVERSARY “While we gather here to celebrate the past 50 years, we also need to concentrate on the future of our industry” Jamie Hepburn

>>> Continued from page 25

Partnership. Among the speakers at the gala dinner on 21 November was Scotland’s Minister for Business, Jamie Hepburn, who called for the electrical industry to “look to the future” as it seeks to meet continuing demand for qualified professionals.

The SNP MSP said: “Apprenticeships remain an invaluable way for young people to learn the skills they need for the world of work.

“The broad nature of the current electrical installation apprenticeship produces qualified and competent people in a safety critical role, who are trained in a consistent way which means that they can operate all over the world as their training meets industry demands.

“Its success is due to the influence of employers and trade unions in ensuring that the qualification is fit for purpose. But while we gather here to celebrate the past 50 years, we also need to ensure we all concentrate on the future of our industry.”

SJIB Chairman Jock Simpson, who hosted the event, attributed the SJIB’s success to the continuing good relationship between employers represented by SELECT and Unite the

JIB Chief Executive Jay Parmer, JIB Chairman Paul Corby, SJIB Secretary Fiona Harper and SJIB Chairman Jock Simpson

Jamie Hepburn enjoys the evening

Continued on page 30 >>> 26

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 6-PAGE SPECIAL

Pictures: www.firstlight.photos

Malcolm Duncan shares a joke with John McGhee

Alick Smith

Craig McGowan, Donald W Orr and David Harris

Piping in the haggis

Ian Stirrat and Ricky Wilson

Harpist Toni Russel

Duncan Wilson and John Quigley

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FEATURES SJIB 50TH ANNIVERSARY

David Harris and Darren Crockett

Riki Gillespie chats with Mark Lawrence at the event

Guests at the special celebration give Fiona Harper a standing ovation

Jock Simpson and Paul Corby enjoy the dinner

SJIB’s Fiona Cornwall and the piper at the castle 28

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TClarke’s John Boyle, Mark Lawrence, Gary Jackson and Chris Harris

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 6-PAGE SPECIAL

Jamie Hepburn

Alan Wilson with Alasdair Noble and David Smith

Elaine Ellis

David Thomas and Gordon Paterson

Archie Jay (standing) enjoys a laugh with Hunter Fletcher

Fiona Harper makes a toast

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FEATURES SJIB 50TH ANNIVERSARY

 6-PAGE SPECIAL

>>> Continued from page 26

Union. He told guests at the event: “Over the past 50 years, the UK has seen many collective agreements disappear and I am pleased that we are unique in being one of a small number who have not just bucked the trend, but have grown and thrived.”

Other speakers on the night included SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson, Scott Foley, Lead Trade Union Officer for the SJIB, and former SELECT President Alick Smith, who said: “The SJIB has brought stability to the industry, laying the foundations for a constructive and progressive industrial relations environment.”

During a traditional Scottish See more images at meal that included an address cabletalkmagazine. to the haggis, and the Selkirk com Grace, read by JIB Chairman Paul Corby, guests were entertained by harpist Toni Russel.

Fiona Harper, The Secretary of the SJIB, was given a standing ovation after rounding off the evening with an emotional toast.

She told guests: “It’s wonderful to look around this room and see so many familiar faces who have helped make the SJIB the formidable body it is today.

“Between us, I think we have paid a fitting tribute to an institution that plays such a central role in the Scottish electrotechnical industry.”

Paul Erasmuson, Duncan Wilson, Stefanie Lowe, Alex Meikle and John Renwick

Fiona Harper with some of the SJIB staff

“It’s wonderful to see so many familiar faces who have helped make the SJIB the formidable body it is today” Fiona Harper 30

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The beautiful dining room

FEATURES ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES CHARITY

High voltage

SELECT Member Gordon McArthur recently completed an arduous climb to Everest Base Camp as part of a group that raised £50,000 for the Electrical Industries Charity. Here, the WMQ Managing Director talks us through the peaks – and troughs – of his adventure Hi Gordon. Why did you want to take part in the challenge?

I’d undertaken a few things for the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) before, like the London Marathon, and heard about their other fundraising challenges which sounded good. I’d always wanted to try to do something out of my comfort zone, so when the opportunity arose, I jumped at it.

I really wanted to see if I could rise to the challenge.

Who did you do it with?

I did it with one of my friends, David Bradley, who works for Keepmoat Homes. We train together and had done a couple of marathons together and always like to challenge each other. So when this came up, David jumped at it too. I think maybe we were a bit naive, thinking, ‘OK, it’s just Base Camp, so shouldn’t be too bad.’ But the closer it got, the more we realised what we’d committed ourselves to.

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Did you do any special training?

We trained for around nine months, doing a variety of gym work, running and tackling various Munros and hills.

We climbed places like Ben Lomond and Conic Hill, going up and down with backpacks on. We also did a number of 10-mile walks round Chatelherault Park near Hamilton. The only thing we couldn’t prepare for was the altitude, so we were quite nervous about that.

And how did it turn out?

It was fine – the altitude didn’t affect us much at all. Once we started walking, we could tell the air was thinning out a bit, and we did feel a bit breathless from time to time, but that was about it. We got through everything else no problem.

What were the other challenges?

The physical side was fine and really enjoyable; it was the basic accommodation and lack of heating and hot water that was more of

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with his Gordon (left) ning ai friend and tr radley B id buddy Dav

an issue. Psychologically, that was a wee bit harder. Some of the lows came after a day’s hike, bedding down in a 2x2m room – the spirits definitely flagged a bit then. We were staying in tea houses, which were extremely basic buildings with a communal eating and toilet area. They were the most basic conditions I’ve ever experienced, but at the same time it made a better experience too; if you’d been staying in a comfy hotel each night it wouldn’t have been the same.

And what were the best bits?

The camaraderie and humour between us all was fantastic – we all made light of the situation and everyone got on and pulled in the same direction. In total, it was 14 days of getting thrown together

PEAK PERFORMANCE Gordon tackled the Everest Base Camp challenge in September 2019 with ten other explorers, including Tessa Ogle, CEO and MD of the EIC. To reach their destination, the group spent up to eight hours a day trekking through steep and unforgiving mountainous terrain, each carrying a 15kg pack.

After battling altitude sickness and climbing through freezing conditions for five days, they finally reached the camp’s coloured flags, which stand at 5,380m above sea level.

Tessa said: “The journey was incredible and the sense of accomplishment every member felt was undeniable.

“It was a physically and mentally exhausting expedition but we all became a tight-knit group because of it.

“Most importantly we managed to raise an astonishing £50,000 for those in our sector who need assistance most.”

The fundrais er stop for a brea s ther during their trek

Celebrations as the hikers finally make it to Base Camp

The charity team faced physical and mental challenges

with people you didn’t even know, yet we all came out of it friends and we all bonded exceptionally well; better than any trip I’ve been on before.

Peru with the EIC next year. Part of my training for that involves doing the Edinburgh Marathon in May. It gets me out of the house!

Did you suffer any side-effects?

So would you recommend it?

Only a kind of low feeling, almost like an anti-climax at not being so physically active every day. In Nepal, we got up in the morning, hiked for hours, talked about it at night and then did the same the next day. And all the time, you didn’t have the usual day-to-day stresses because you were just focused on walking, which was quite cathartic.

Absolutely. It’s tough – the toughest challenge I’ve ever done. Some of the slopes were relentless and at times we all needed other people to tell us, ‘Keep going, you’re nearly there’. But at the end of the day it was a phenomenal thing to do – absolutely fantastic.

How much did you raise? And what’s your next challenge?

David and I raised about £12,500 between us, and I’ve now signed up to do the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in

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Find out more about the EIC and sign up for its next challenge at www.electricalcharity.org

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FOCUS CORPORATE CRIMINAL OFFENCE

It’s time to take evasive action Companies and partnerships of all sizes could be prosecuted if they can’t show that they’ve taken adequate steps to prevent anyone associated with them from carrying out tax evasion. HMRC says it expects businesses to introduce specific processes to stop it happening – so what can you do to safeguard against potential criminal prosecution and a hefty fine?

By James Paterson, Partner, BDO LLP

A

lthough the rules about tax evasion attracted plenty of media attention when they were introduced in September 2017, things inevitably went quiet as the rules bedded in.

However, HMRC has now made it clear that it intends to focus on this area – so if you’ve not yet done anything, it’s time to take action now.

The rules were introduced against a backdrop of increasing focus on tax issues by the media, UK Government and the public at large. Although aggressive tax planning can be legal, it is increasingly seen as morally questionable, if not objectionable,

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by many; illegal tax evasion, which may have been tolerated by some in the past, is now rightly viewed as completely unacceptable in most quarters.

The offence

There are in fact two offences, the domestic offence and the overseas offence, but both are referred to as the Corporate Criminal Offence (CCO).

The rules are concerned solely with tax evasion and are designed to overcome the difficulties which had previously been faced by the authorities in holding businesses to account where their ‘associated persons’ had facilitated tax evasion. ‘Associated persons’ embraces a wide range of people, but broadly includes employees, agents,

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contractors and potentially third-party suppliers. To prosecute a business under the CCO rules, HMRC must prove three tests are met: 1. Criminal tax evasion (of UK tax for the domestic offence, or overseas tax for the overseas offence, in which case the actions must amount to a criminal offence both in the relevant country and in the UK), or attempted tax evasion.

2. Criminal facilitation of this offence by an associated person of the business (and again, the overseas offence requires the actions to amount to a criminal offence both here and overseas).

3. The failure of the business to put in place reasonable procedures to prevent facilitation of tax evasion by its associated persons.

show that it has brought in reasonable prevention procedures. The only possible exception is where it is not ‘reasonable to expect’ a business to have any prevention procedures – although HMRC has been clear that it thinks this could only apply to the smallest businesses.

Businesses can protect themselves from prosecution by taking a number of steps, including: ●●Documenting a risk assessment which is appropriate to the size and complexity of the business. ●●Developing and implementing policies and procedures which are proportionate to the risks identified ●●Demonstrating top level. commitment to implementing these policies and procedures ●●Clearly communicating policies and procedures to all associated persons and providing employees and contractors with appropriate training. ●●Monitoring and reviewing their procedures to ensure that they are working in practice.

Note that no tax needs to have been successfully evaded, or for those involved at stages 1 or 2 to have been prosecuted, in order for a business to be prosecuted under the CCO rules.

Examples of facilitation

Businesses could find themselves liable to prosecution in a wide range of cases, including: ●●Members of a finance or accounts payable team deliberately altering invoices to benefit the tax position of a supplier. ●●The failure to question why a supplier is not registered for UK VAT where their turnover is thought to exceed £85,000. ●●Members of staff colluding to allow

inflated expense claims to be made, or disguising the provision of benefits to staff.

HMRC has recently stepped up enforcement activity on CCO. Examples of particular interest to businesses in the electrical sector include focusing on businesses with off-payroll workers who may not have made sufficient checks on the employment status of those workers and questioning businesses who could be vulnerable to becoming involved in VAT supply chain.

Protecting your business

A company or partnership which fails to prevent facilitation of tax evasion will be guilty under the CCO rules unless it can

BDO has worked with a wide range of businesses, including several in the electrical sector, to help them develop a reasonable response to the CCO rules.

HMRC’s guidance emphasises that businesses cannot simply adopt ‘off the shelf’ procedures and expect to be protected. Nevertheless, there are a number of quick wins and we have developed a suite of template policies which can assist in developing a robust response to CCO. We can also offer a comprehensive online training tool which can be rolled out to all those within the business who are able to influence financial transactions, such as your HR, finance, and procurement teams.

How much damage would it cause your business to be publicly cited in a tax evasion case? For most businesses that is a scary question so it is imperative that businesses act now to ensure that they do not fall foul of the legislation.

James Paterson is a Partner in BDO’s Scottish tax practice. He can be contacted on 0131 347 0376 or at james.paterson@bdo.co.uk

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FOCUS PAYMENTS

The power is

By Professor Rudi Klein SEC Group CEO and Barrister

A

s I write this, we’re in the midst of a General Election to vote in 646 members of the House of Commons. By the time that this column is published, we’ll know who has been elected.

So, as soon as possible after the poll on 12 December, we should be contacting all our MPs with a simple message: Payment abuse = broken lives + broken buildings.

Unless they support legislation to enhance payment security for small

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With the dust now settling from the General Election, there’s never been a better time to get hold of your newly-elected MP and pressure them to join the fight against payment abuse and medium enterprises (SMEs) in construction, the industry will continue on a downward spiral of declining investment in jobs and skills and of falling standards and quality.

In contacting new MPs, we should not hold back. They should understand SMEs create the bulk of the industry’s value and the future survival of many of these companies depends on MPs supporting measures to ensure that they are paid.

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The scourge of insolvency

Insolvencies in the construction industry are now running at their highest rate since the recession.

More than 30,000 SMEs in Carillion’s supply chain lost monies when the company collapsed in January 2018. The Business Select Committee in the House of Commons concluded that Carillion had treated them with “contempt”.

Just as I’m writing this, the news is that Wetheralds, a Leeds-based specialist painting and decorating contractor, has been forced into liquidation by a string of main contractor bad debts.

The final blow for this 33-year-old firm was the loss of £150,000 for work done for the Simons Group, which went into administration in October. This came on top of £911,000 worth of unpaid work for the Shaylor Group, which went into insolvency in the summer.

One Wetheralds director said: “We’ve never seen anything like this. Bigger firms are a law unto themselves – pay less notices and major firms not paying are driving firms out of business.” This is

in your hands A SUGGESTED EMAIL TO YOUR NEW MP Dear [name of new MP] PAYMENT ABUSE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY First, I’d like to congratulate you on being elected to the House of Commons. I’m involved in an electrical business located in your constituency, where I also live [if your constituency is different to where your business is located, write to your own MP].

You may be aware that the construction industry is notorious for payment abuse, with large companies often bullying SMEs into accepting lengthy payment terms and finding spurious excuses for not discharging due payments. Carillion was a prime example of this behaviour.

In the previous Parliament, two Private Members’ Bills on payment security were introduced. The first sought to protect retention monies in a ring-fenced account. Retention monies are generally used to bolster the poor finances of large companies (ostensibly they are deducted from due payments in case a firm fails to return to rectify non-compliant work). It could take upwards of three years for retentions to be released; for many firms they represent their profit margins.

The project bank accounts Bill would

Find your MP’s addr email es bit.ly s at MP_ / list

have protected progress payments due to firms in the supply chain, especially against insolvencies up the supply chain.

Everybody receives their payments from the same ‘pot’ and everybody is paid within a maximum of 20 days.

Payment abuse in the construction industry is now taking its toll both on mental health and on quality and standards. In a recent survey, over 90% of those involved in running businesses reported mental health problems because of payment problems, ranging from stress to suicidal thoughts.

Therefore I invite your support for legislation to: ●●ring-fence progress payments in project bank accounts ●●protect retention monies ●●mandate 30-day payments, and ●●debar serial bad payers from public sector work.

Would you kindly let me know that you would support such legislation and, additionally, whether you would be interested in seeking to lay a Private Member’s Bill?

I look forward to hearing from you, [Your name]

reflected across the UK. Dundee building services company McGill & Co collapsed this year with the loss of 425 jobs, with administrators blaming delays in payment on a number of significant jobs.

In Northern Ireland, M&E contractor Blackbourne Ltd went into insolvency in September, with the Carillion collapse cited as one of the main causes. And in March, Wales suffered its own version of the Carillion collapse when main contractor Dawnus went bust with almost £40 million left owing to its subcontractors.

Getting the message to our MPs

SELECT member businesses can make known these problems to all new MPs by sending an email like the one shown left.

You can copy and paste the text from www.cabletalkmagazine.com too.

Your letter should draw on your own experiences. How many payments are made late or for less than the amount applied for? Have you lost significant sums as a result of insolvencies?

And remember; On public sector projects, unlike their subcontractors, Tier 1 contractors don’t carry any insolvency risk – public bodies do not go into insolvency.

Always emphasise the broader impact of payment abuse. As we outline elsewhere in this issue of CABLEtalk, it is a substantial cause of mental health issues amongst business owners and senior employees which, in turn, has repercussions for family relationships.

Also, poor payment practices help drive poor behaviours which, in turn, drive poor quality, according to Dame Judith Hackitt who produced a report in May 2018 on improving building safety following the Grenfell tragedy.

Please amend this template to suit your circumstances. Responses should be sent to SELECT, with a copy to contact@ secroup.org.uk The responses will help us continue the campaign on your behalf to improve payment security.

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DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

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FOCUS INDUSTRY UPDATE

Our industry expert reports back from the SBCC’s annual conference, where the latest news, updates and developments affecting the sector and its future were discussed

By Len Bunton

FRICS FCIArb, HON FRIAS

SEC Group Scotland

A

few weeks ago, I had the opportunity of speaking at the Annual Update Conference of the Scottish Building Contracts Committee (SBCC) and I thought it would be worth mentioning some of the issues that were discussed.

This is an excellent conference to attend as it covers a whole range of issues relevant to all sectors of the construction industry. It is important that contractors and the supply chain have up-to-date knowledge about what is happening in the industry and what issues are under consideration.

Case law and contracts

One conference speaker dealt with recent case law and identified some cases on adjudication which are relevant to the industry. Most of our lawyers in Scotland are very adept at issuing bulletins highlighting recent 38

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developments. We then had an update improve the quality of what the industry on the recent contracts published by constructs. The general view was that SBCC and a full list of these can be quality management should be an issue found on their website. for consideration at tender review stage, It is very important to note that all and the contractor should be asked to current contracts should be based on identify the measures they are going to the SBCC 2016 additions and there is a take to ensure a defects-free building facility to download these documents, at completion. saving the need for paper copies.

Focus on quality I would recommend to every I think in the future this will form contractor and subcontractor reading part of the procurement strategy and this article that they purchase a set of that public and private sector these conditions and use them, as employers will ask a business they represent the conditions to establish from previous right across the industry. clients what the tendering There was an excellent Len contractor’s track record is presentation on latent answers your in relation to quality. defects in the construction Greater focus is needed industry and the reasons questions: on quality during the for these, and what needs PAGE 41 construction stages, and to be done in the future to the regular notification of non-compliant workmanship to the contractor and the supply chain should be an ongoing process by the employer and the design team.

There should be ongoing efforts to make good non-compliant workmanship as you go.

For far too long the industry has accepted Practical Completion as meaning the building is fit for occupation but “by the way, we have 2,500 items on the snagging list which you can complete when you are ready”.

In short, I think completion means

“It’s important contractors and the supply chain have up-to-date knowledge about industry issues”

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

Continued on page 40 >>>

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DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

39

FOCUS INDUSTRY UPDATE of more than £2 million, although procurers are free to introduce PBAs as they consider appropriate. It really is welcome news for the industry and the SEC Group deserves great credit for their enthusiastic work in persuading the Scottish Government to reduce the threshold and to implement PBAs. To you contractors out there, it will mean that you will be paid at the same point in time as the contractors receive payment from the employer. Further advice on PBAs can be found from Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, on the SELECT website, along with some other interesting reading material.

Ready for change

Continued from page 38

completion in every sense of the word and I think the whole industry needs to tighten up on this process. I think we will see the appearance of quality management on sites and this will mean there is as much attention to quality as the industry gives to health and safety.

Ending retention

I had the opportunity to present a paper on the old chestnut of retention. The whole industry wants to see retention abolished. There are billions of pounds tied up in retentions across the UK. At present, we do not have any factual information on the value of retentions held by employers in Scotland, and it would be not too difficult to try to establish these figures.

If the industry wants to see retention abolished then they have to have to give the employer something back in return, and that is why I emphasised the need for greater quality management during the construction process.

Most SMEs I deal with want to have a reputation as a competent and efficient contractor, and in my view that is a healthy recipe to build long-term relationships with procurers of construction projects. This is not a matter that the Scottish Government can address – it is down to the industry to produce a better product. The Scottish 40

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“If the industry wants retention abolished then they have to give the employer something back in return” Government has commissioned a consultation into retention which I think, quite frankly, is just kicking the can down the road. We need a collective drive with the industry bodies and employers to come up with a game plan to produce quality buildings such that retention can be abolished safely.

Project Bank Accounts

There was also a very interesting presentation on Project Bank Accounts (PBAs), which have been introduced by the Scottish Government for public sector projects with the tender value

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

We also had a presentation on Integrated Project Insurance, which is a collaborative form of procurement involving the employer, the design team and the contractor from the outset.

The project development benefits from the know-how and knowledge of those involved and I believe that this method of procurement will gradually gain traction in industry.

The conference closed with a questionand-answer session involving all speakers and we had some interesting topics to discuss. It is encouraging to see that there are changes happening in the Scottish Construction Industry and these will need buy-in from all sectors and organisations involved. There is no doubt that SELECT is heavily involved in these processes and looking to bring benefit to their members.

PAYMENT PLEDGE Finally, something I have written about and a badly needed process – Conflict Avoidance Processes (CAP). Can I ask readers to go to the RICS Conflict Avoidance Pledge webpage and sign up to promote fair play on payment and early intervention into construction problems. Visit www.rics.org/capledge to find out more.

FOCUS Q&A

Answering your

QUESTIONS Len Bunton advises SELECT Members about how to deal with payment problems, PBAs and much more Where can I get the SBCC family of contracts?

You can go onto the SBCC website and you can see all of the 2016 editions. You can subscribe to the online service and if you want hard copies as well, you can order them from the RICS and the RIAS in Edinburgh. You will find the Guidance Notes very helpful.

A contractor has indicated that there will be a Project Bank Account on a contract we have secured. Where can I find out more about how they operate?

There is plenty of material on the internet and SELECT has information on its website.

There is also a very good Scottish Government publication called Implementing Project Bank Accounts in Construction Contracts that you can download for more details.

We are tendering for a interesting project and we have been sent the contractor’s terms and conditions of the subcontract. Some of them look problematic. What should we do next?

First take external advice. Someone can run through these for you and tell you if there are any minefields. One you have established that, you can try to negotiate these out. If not, you have a difficult decision to take – either walk away, or live with them and hope for the best. I have seen some horrendous conditions, so beware.

We just can’t get paid and if we do, money is usually taken off our application for payment without any justification.

This is why it is critical to make sure you have clear payment terms and you stick to the dates. Remember, if you are not paid you can threaten to suspend the performance of your obligations on the site – that’s a powerful tool.

put a price together for acceptance; don’t do the work unless a price is accepted. The SBCC Contracts 2016 provide for you to submit a Variation Quotation.

What can we do if we see problems looming on a project?

Sit down and talk about them and try to find a resolution. You will see from my other article that I refer to the RICS Conflict Avoidance Pledge and I suggest you all sign up to it online. It offers fair play and early intervention by an experienced construction industry person to look at the issues and come forward with recommendations for resolution. If you want more information then contact Alan Wilson, the Managing Director of SELECT, or me.

Variations – how should we deal with them?

Make sure you have written instructions;

CABLEtalk

Please keep your questions coming and send any queries you may have to len@ buntonconsulting.co.uk DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

41

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TRAINING DOMESTIC VENTILATION

New course’s second airing More domestic ventilation sessions are planned with Glen Dimplex after a great response from Members

F

ollowing some excellent feedback from Members, SELECT will be running more domestic ventilation training courses in 2020.

The next one-day session will be held in Glasgow in February, after the successful delivery of two courses at the SELECT Training Centre late this year.

Run in partnership with global experts

of things, and seeing how the units actually worked, was great.”

Another delegate said: “It was excellent training – it was useful learning about testing requirements and there was plenty of handout information to refer back to.”

While other comments included “very informative”, “good explanation of flow requirements” and “good trainer”.

Glen Dimplex, the course delivers SELECT Training Manager information on relevant Jenny Cryans said: “We were legislation and guidance to delighted with the response NEXT enable correct installation, to the first course and we COURSE: inspection, testing, are now planning further Wed 19 Feb 2020 commission and handover sessions to satisfy Member Price: of such systems in Scotland.

Member demand.” £158 + VAT It also includes several The course is split into four practical calculations for modules and is presented by airflow requirements Craig Cundey, Head of Product and measurement.

Training at Glen Dimplex Heating.

A SELECT certificate will be awarded on satisfactory completion of the course, which includes a short, open-book multiple-choice assessment.

The new date in Glasgow follows the first two successful sessions held at The To book your place on the Walled Garden in November, which saw course, email training@select. an enthusiastic response from delegates. org.uk or call 0131 445 5577.

Feedback included: “The course Places can also be booked on provided some great information. It our website, www.select.org.uk was very hands-on, so the physical side

Delegates on the course in November

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DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

43

TRAINING NEW COURSES New recruits get off to a flying start as they begin this year’s SELECT Effective Manager Programme

NEXT COURSES: 7 & 8 Jan 2020 Member Price: £310 + VAT

On the road to success with EV charging course SELECT is now working in partnership with Fife College to offer a new City & Guilds training course on Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation.

The two-day course, which will start in Glenrothes in January, aims to provide expert guidance to learners who want to gain a better understanding and knowledge of all aspects of the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment.

Aimed at practising electricians interested in understanding how to install the range of equipment and systems available, the qualification covers the specialised installation requirements of EV charging equipment in public, private and commercial locations, and includes guidance on electrical requirements.

Topics covered in the course include: ●●Requirements relating to EV charging equipment ●●Advantages and disadvantages of different types of EV charging equipment ●●Preparation and 44

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T

he new intake of candidates for SELECT’s Effective Manager Programme have taken their seats – and are already on the path to becoming better leaders.

planning for design and installation ●●Requirements for inspection, testing, commissioning and handover.

Jenny Cyrans, SELECT Training Manager, said: “It’s been great to team up with Fife College to offer this new Level 3 Award in Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation.

“We know from feedback that the installation of EV equipment is becoming a growing priority, and we’re happy to provide training options to keep up with this demand.”

During the classes, the students will cover a range of knowledge and skills before being assessed by a multiple-choice test and practical assessment.

To book your place on the course, email training@select.org.uk or call 0131 445 5577. Places can also be booked on our website, www.select.org.uk

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

Thirteen new recruits have signed up for the one-year training course run by SELECT and Edinburgh Napier University, which aims to help them improve and develop their management skills.

Diane Peebles, the programme’s leader, said: “We have a bright and engaged group of managers this year, who are all enjoying the opportunity to explore various different aspects of management and to take time to think about their own approach and style of managing.

“So far, we’ve covered an introduction to management and Diane Peebles

The Effective Manager Programme students at The Walled Garden

Leading THE WAY leadership, looked at the importance of looking after your own and others’ mental health and wellbeing at work, and we’ve also explored communication styles and approaches.

“All the workshops are highly participative and our current students have entered into this with enthusiasm and interest.”

The SELECT programme, which started in September,

follows the success of 11 previous courses run in conjunction with the university.

Diane added: “This year’s group have quickly realised that they will learn as much from each other as they do from our experienced tutors, and are enjoying the opportunity to think about how they will take different approaches back to their workplace. Their first written

assignments are due in December, and as programme leader I am looking forward to seeing how the students are applying their new knowledge back at work.”

As the new intake set out on their pathway, Diane shared a letter from one of the previous graduates who took the time to thank her for what he’d learned on the course.

Alasdair Noble, from John Noble Electrical

CABLEtalk

Contractors Ltd, said: “I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your help and guidance over this past year.

“I feel I really developed as a manager during the course and rarely a day goes by where I don’t use something I’ve learned to aid me in my work.

“The content of the course was great and I often refer back to my notes to reassure myself that I’m taking the right path of action. I also reflect a lot more on how things went and how things could be done differently going forward, learning from both good and bad outcomes.

“I can’t thank you enough and just hope you realise what a fantastic difference you are making to the way people manage themselves, their staff and their companies in general.”

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

45

APPRENTICES WORLDSKILLS UK LIVE

On top of the World BRONZE

DARREN KERR  Prime Electrical  New College Lanarkshire

Darren shows off his skills in the challenge

SECTT apprentices celebrated two medal wins at this year’s WorldSkills UK LIVE

T

wo young SECTT apprentices returned home with medals after impressing the judges at this year’s WorldSkills UK LIVE competition.

Delighted Lewis Sim and Darren Kerr clinched silver and bronze respectively in the electrical installation 46

CABLEtalk

category of the three-day contest.

A third SECTT apprentice, Blair Angus, also took part in the annual competition, which was held at the Birmingham NEC from Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 November.

To win a place at the final, the trio had to navigate a Scottish SECTT heat then take part in one of six SkillElectric UK regional heats, this year held at Dundee and Angus College in June.

The top eight performers from the UK regional heats then competed in the three-day challenge under

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

the eyes of a group of industry experts.

Darren currently attends the Motherwell Campus of New College Lanarkshire and works with Prime Electrical. When not at Moray College UHI, Lewis is learning the ropes at McDonald and Munro, while Blair works for Wood Industrial Services and attends Ayrshire College.

Anne Galbraith, the CEO of SECTT, said: “Everyone at Blair Angus

SILVER

Lewis hard at work during the contest

LEWIS SIM  McDonald and Munro  Moray College UHI

“They are a credit to their employers, their colleges and Scotland, and we wish them well for the future” Anne Galbraith, SECTT SECTT is delighted for both Lewis and Darren, who thoroughly deserved these accolades.

“All three of the competitors can be extremely proud of their performances – to reach the finals is in itself a fantastic achievement.

“They are a credit to their employers, their colleges and Scotland, and we wish them well for the future.”

This year’s success follows double delight in the 2018 competition, which saw SECTT apprentices Rhys Boni and

Paul Anderson clinch gold and silver medals respectively.

Anne added: “Scottish apprentices have now won four of the six medals on offer at WorldSkills UK LIVE in the last two years, which is a fantastic advertisement for electrical training north of the border.”

This year’s WorldSkills UK LIVE saw more than 500 talented apprentices and students compete in more than 70 different disciplines, ranging from bricklaying to floristry.

The winners in each category secured the opportunity to represent the UK at the WorldSkills Finals – known as the ‘skills Olympics’ – in Shanghai in 2021.

The event also attracted more than 80,000 visitors and featured over 200 different employers and training organisations, plus in-depth talks from industry leaders.

Ben Blackledge, Deputy CEO of WorldSkills UK, said: “This is a lifechanging moment for these young people – they are the new generation of high flyers that will give UK employers a competitive edge.

“Taking part in WorldSkills UK competitions equips young people with the world-class skills that are needed to help UK businesses better compete globally “We couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of them – and the standard of competition could not have been higher.”

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DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

47

NEXT ISSUE

INNOVATION SPECIAL

PRODUCT SHOWCASE Our guide to the latest 1 SNICKERS’ NEW SWEATSHIRTS KEEP YOU WARM AND STYLISH ON SITE

Snickers’ great new range of hoodies and sweatshirts for craftsmen and women are probably the most comfortable they’ve ever designed.

The full-zip or overhead tops are perfect for combining with

Snickers’ First and Second Layer Undergarments and can comfortably be worn under a jacket on chilly days.

Street-smart and great for on-site or leisure activities, there’s a range of styles and colour options to choose from.

They’re made from a cosy, durable polycotton fabric and have a soft-brushed finish on the inside for extra comfort, as well as handwarmer pockets at the front.

For more information on Snickers Workwear, call the Hultafors Group UK Helpline on 01484 854 788, check out the website and download a digital catalogue at www. snickersworkwear.co.uk or send an email to info@ snickersworkwear.co.uk

3 SUPER ROD IN FIRST PLACE WITH AWARD-WINNING CABLE TOOL

In-depth reports on:

electric vehicles / renewables / changing trends / new technology OUT IN FEBRUARY 2020 48

CABLEtalk

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

Super Rod proved it’s at the forefront of innovation by winning Best New Product at the SELECT Awards for its Ferret WiFi Cable Pulling Tool.

The device is a clever combination of an inspection camera and a cable-pulling tool, and beat tough competition to land the sought-after top prize at this year’s contest.

It employs the latest electronic technology to stream high

resolution video to a smart device in real time.

And the camera ensures users always get crisp and clear images even in total darkness thanks to six bright white LEDs positioned on the front.

Super Rod has been designing and building cable rods since 2001.

For more information, go to www.super-rod.co.uk, email sales@super-rod.co.uk or call 01495 792 000.

CONTACT OUR TEAM TO SHOWCASE YOUR GREAT NEW PRODUCTS HERE

industry solutions 2 BEAT WINTER WEATHER WITH ALLROUNDWORK JACKETS RANGE The new ALLroundWork jackets and gilets from Snickers are just what the name suggests – delivering a great all-round performance on site with a Ripstop water-resistant outer fabric and a coated inner fabric for extra durability.

They’re wind-resistant and all have the features and functionality that you’d expect in Snickers Workwear clothing.

Designed for optimum comfort and flexibility when you’re on the move, they’re great-looking working clothes that will keep you feeling comfortable in cold and windy weather.

With smart designs and an ergonomic fit, Snickers Workwear ALLroundWork

Interim Payment: Appeal Court leaves no milestone unturned

By David Wilson Partner, MacRoberts LLP

garments are packed with must-have features that focus on functionality and freedom of movement as well as using innovative fabrics that delivers long-lasting protection. For more information, got to www. snickersworkwear.co.uk email info@snickersworkwear.co.uk or call 01484 854 788.

4 VENT-AXIA’S PUREAIR BATHROOM SOLUTION MAKES PERFECT SENSE Vent-Axia’s PureAir Sense is the UK’s only bathroom fan equipped with Odour Sense Technology. The pioneering design – nominated for Best Product at this year’s SELECT Awards – means that whenever the sensor detects a strong smell, the fan speed increases and quickly extracts the odour to help ensure the air always feels fresh.

It also features an adjustable timer

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

that can be triggered via a switch or a light sensor and a delay-on feature to stop the fan being triggered during the night.

The PureAir Sense is easy to install and is delivered with factory settings that will be perfect for the majority of projects. This means the fan install only involves fitting and no set-up – saving you time on site.

For more information, go to www.vent-axia.com or call 0844 856 0590.

David Hughes: 0131 561 0022 davidh@connectcommunications.co.uk

The Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Bennett (Construction) Ltd v CIMC MBS Ltd has looked at the use of “milestone” payments in contracts and produced some useful guidance for contractors.

Bennett contracted with CIMC for the build of 78 prefabricated bedroom units for a London hotel.

The subcontract contained a total of five milestone payments, payable when a certain percentage of the work was completed.

Some of the milestones required “signoff” by Bennett.

CIMC claimed that the sign-off requirement did not comply with s.110 of The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (“the 1996 Act”), which requires that contracts contain “an adequate mechanism for determining what payments become due”.

It was argued that the “sign-off” requirement could allow the contractor to deliberately circumvent the requirement to pay.

Ultimately the court found that the milestone payments did amount to “an adequate payment mechanism”.

It noted in particular that the requirement for “signCABLEtalk

off” should be read objectively, meaning that if the required percentage completion had been achieved, then CIMC would be entitled to payment.

What mattered was whether completion had actually been achieved.

If completion had been achieved, CIMC was entitled to payment regardless of whether Bennett had actually “signed off”.

It did not matter that there was no express date for payment because it was clear that the sum was payable when completion was achieved.

What can we take away from this decision?

While it will be heartening to many that milestone payments have been considered compliant with the 1996 Act, parties should be careful in their use of any provision requiring “sign-off”.

In this case, parties were entirely at odds as to what “sign-off” meant, ultimately resulting in a costly litigation.

It is therefore always sensible to make provisions, particularly in relation to payment, as clear as possible. ● To find out more, email david.wilson@macroberts. com or call 0141 303 1100.

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

49

DIARY STAFF / EVENTS / COMPETITION

GETTING TO KNOW YOU Susie Liddle

Technical Administrator Hi Susie. How long have you been at SELECT?

I started as a temp on 1 July and was taken on fulltime in August.

I’ve only been here six months but have settled in quickly.

What were you doing before SELECT? Tell us about your background and how you got here.

I’ve had a varied employment history. I started out in admin with an agricultural merchant on the south coast before moving to Scotland to work in an IT call centre using my language skills. I’ve been on a technical helpdesk for a pensions and investment firm and also did a long stint in credit control for an IT company.

Before I came to SELECT, I worked for National Museums Scotland at the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian – a complete change from IT!

What does your job entail? Tell us a bit more about what you do…

I work for the Technical Advisers (TAs) and arrange all their report paperwork. Gathering all the information needed for a

LOCAL EVENTS Edinburgh Branch Update and AGM Tuesday 3 March

50

technical assessment enables them to visit Members fully informed, then I process the returned reports. I take Members’ stationery orders and I’m involved in maintaining the UKAS accreditation paperwork.

I’ve also been testing the new computer system and it’s been great to help shape the way it will be used to streamline the technical assessment process.

 QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS:

What’s a typical day like for you? Tell us about some of the things you do on an average day...

Cheese or chocolate? Cheese Dog or cat? Dog First car owned?

Austin Metro Favourite film?

The Life of Brian Favourite TV show?

Dexter

The first thing I do is put stationery orders in the system and then arrange shipping to Members. Then I get gather information and produce reports for visits arranged by the TAs. I also liaise with Membership Services if there are any actions that need addressing after a membership assessment.

What do you know now that you didn’t before joining SELECT? Did you know much about the electrical industry ?

Do you get the chance to meet SELECT Members?

I am amazed at how much SELECT offers Members, all the benefits, advice and training.

There is so much more going on than I first thought.

I see Members if they collect stationery orders from SELECT HQ. I’m hoping to go to a Toolbox Talk and meet more then.

Ayrshire Branch Update and AGM Thursday 12 March

NC BRA

Glasgow Branch Update and AGM Tuesday 17 March

Lanarkshire Branch Update and AGM Tuesday 10 March

Aberdeen Branch Update and AGM Thursday 19 March

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

What do you find most enjoyable about your job?

No two days here are the same – there is always a new challenge.

● To contact Susie, email susie.liddle@select.org.uk or call 0131 445 5577.

ANR EE 19ABM ERD DATE

Inverness Branch Update and AGM Thursday 5 March

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Favourite holiday spot?

Aviemore Dream date?

Five Guys with my girlfriends One thing folk might not know about you?

I learned how to windsurf in Germany

H UP

Dumfries and Galloway Branch Update and AGM Tuesday 24 March Tayside Branch Update and AGM Thursday 26 March

Branch Update venues to be confirmed

President’s Cup Dunblane New Golf Club, Wednesday 18 May

COMPETITION CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD

W £ I 50

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8 9

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2. Giant sock that may get

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7. The only reindeer whose name begins with P (7) 8. Deck the halls with boughs 11. The night before Christmas 15. What’s in Santa’s bag (4)

18

out for Santa (7) 10. Red and white candy (5, 4) 12. Eight of these pull

(9, 3) 17

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of this (5)

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through this (7) 13

4. If you stand under this, you

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16. Reindeer with red nose (7)

13. Santa says this (2, 2, 2)

17. Person who brings gifts (5)

14. Helper who makes toys (3)

18. Christmas month (8)

Here’s the chance to win a fantastic £50 Amazon voucher with our fun crossword compiled by SELECT Training Administrator Laurie Burns. Answer the various clues linked to Christmas listed above right, take a picture of your finished grid and email it to memberservices@select.org.uk by 10 January 2020. Or cut it out and send it to: Crossword, SELECT, The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian EH26 0SB. The winner will be drawn at random. Terms and conditions are online.

Central Board and SELECT AGM DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh – Queensferry Crossing, Wednesday 3 June Teddy Bears’ Picnic The Walled Garden, Penicuik, Saturday 20 June

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5-7 March DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

51

Testing Testingwith with Testing with our baby our baby our baby

PAT100 PAT100Series Series PAT100 Series PAT testing is awkward work at the best of times, that’s

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